Delhi CM Proposes Revised Approach To Vehicle Ban Amid Public Outcry

Delhi CM suggests fitness-based vehicle checks, not blanket age-based bans

The Delhi government’s initial support for the Commission for Air Quality Management’s (CAQM) directive to ban the refuelling of overage vehicles from July 1, 2025, has undergone a significant shift. Following widespread criticism and distress among vehicle owners, the directive was placed on hold on July 9, 2025. The Delhi government, led by Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, has since moved the Supreme Court to challenge a 2018 ruling supporting the blanket ban on End-of-Life Vehicles (ELVs).

The backlash from the public intensified after numerous reports emerged of well-maintained yet older vehicles being rendered obsolete. In some cases, owners were forced to sell their vehicles at throwaway prices. Notably, a Mercedes-Benz ML 350 was reportedly sold for just Rs. 2.5 lakh and a 16-year-old, non-polluting Mercedes was labeled as scrap under the policy.

Responding to this reaction and acknowledging practical implementation challenges, the Delhi government paused the enforcement of the ban. CM Rekha Gupta has now proposed a more nuanced approach to vehicle regulation. Instead of focusing solely on vehicle age, her proposal centers around actual emissions and roadworthiness.

Gupta argued that all vehicles, regardless of age, should be subject to pollution checks and allowed on the road if they meet emission standards and pass fitness tests. She emphasised the importance of aligning Delhi’s rules with those enforced in other parts of India to maintain consistency and fairness.

As the case heads to the Supreme Court, the debate continues over how best to balance environmental concerns with individual rights and infrastructure realities in one of India’s most congested cities.