Delhi government seeks review of the 2018 ban, arguing for fitness-based criteria instead of an arbitrary age limit on 10-year-old diesel and 15-year-old petrol vehicles. Petitioners in Supreme Court demand scientific evaluation of environmental benefits before enforcing scrapping rules.
BY PC Bureau
August 12, 2025 — The Supreme Court on Monday directed that no coercive action be taken, for now, against owners of diesel vehicles over 10 years old and petrol vehicles over 15 years old in Delhi-NCR.
A bench comprising Chief Justice BR Gavai and Justices K Vinod Chandran and NV Anjaria passed the interim order while hearing multiple pleas on environmental issues in the long-running MC Mehta case. The Court also issued notice in the Delhi government’s review petition challenging its own 2018 order that upheld the National Green Tribunal’s (NGT) age-based vehicle ban.
Delhi Govt Seeks Review of 2018 Ban
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the Delhi government, argued that the ban was arbitrary. He pointed out that private vehicle owners are forced to sell their vehicles after the 10/15-year limit, while the same vehicles, if used commercially, can continue to operate beyond that period.
The review petition contends that the ban is no longer necessary because stricter emission monitoring standards and wider coverage of pollution testing have been implemented since 2018. The Delhi government has also asked the Court to direct the Union government and the Commission for Air Quality Management to conduct a comprehensive scientific study to assess whether the age-based ban actually delivers significant environmental benefits.
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Background of the Ban
In 2015, the NGT ordered that diesel vehicles older than 10 years and petrol vehicles older than 15 years should be banned in Delhi-NCR to combat rising pollution levels. The Supreme Court upheld this order in October 2018.
VIDEO | The Supreme Court protects owners of diesel vehicles over 10 years old and petrol vehicles over 15 years old in Delhi-NCR from coercive action.
Reacting to the Supreme Court order, Delhi Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa says, “This is a big relief for the people of… pic.twitter.com/AUnU7Qlv3D
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) August 12, 2025
In 2024, the Delhi government issued the Guidelines for Handling End-of-Life Vehicles in Public Places, which required overaged vehicles to be scrapped. It also announced that, from July 1, 2025, such vehicles would not be supplied fuel at petrol pumps. This fuel ban was later put on hold after public backlash.
Other Petitions and Reliefs Sought
Several intervention applications have also been filed, seeking a stay on the impugned orders and clarification that the 2018 directive should be effective only prospectively — from a fixed date — rather than being applied retrospectively.
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Some applicants have asked the Court to:
- Adopt fitness testing as the statutory basis for determining a vehicle’s end-of-life, instead of an arbitrary age limit.
- Quash the 2024 Guidelines mandating scrapping of overaged vehicles without clear statutory backing.
- Apply the October 29, 2018 order only from that date onwards, so that vehicles purchased earlier are not unfairly targeted.
- Issue a clear clarification on the effective date of the 2018 ruling to protect existing vehicle owners’ rights.
Advocate Charu Mathur appeared for some applicants opposing the “End-of-Life” classification based solely on age.
