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A new development has emerged regarding the ‘End-of-Life Vehicle’ (ELV) policy implemented in the national capital Delhi from 1st July 2025. Under this rule, 10-year-old diesel vehicles and 15-year-old petrol vehicles were to be impounded, with fuel supply restrictions enforced. However, the Delhi government has now indicated a partial rollback of the policy.
‘End of Life Vehicle’ (ELV) Rules (Image Source: Internet)
New Delhi: There has been a new twist regarding the 'End of Life Vehicle' (ELV) rule implemented in the capital, Delhi, from July 1, 2025. Under this rule, the action of confiscating 10-year-old diesel and 15-year-old petrol vehicles and not giving them fuel had started, but now the Delhi government has indicated a partial halt to it.
According to the Dynamite News correspondent, Delhi Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa has written a letter to the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) highlighting the major flaws of the rule and demanding its re-review.
The government says that it is practically difficult for the public to implement it without complete preparation and uniformity in the NCR region. Unless this rule is implemented uniformly in the entire NCR, it is not possible to make it effective in Delhi.
The government itself is on the back foot.
The Delhi government was under pressure from all sides regarding the seizure of old vehicles. While the opposition called it an injustice to the public, the government has also started trying to save itself by counting the flaws of this rule.
Minister Sirsa said, "We are developing a new system so that neither pollution increases nor the vehicles of common people are confiscated. Vehicles should not be evaluated only on the basis of age but on the basis of their pollution level."
Opposition and Technical challenges
Cabinet Minister Pravesh Verma also questioned this policy and said that Delhi is already facing the brunt of pollution and traffic; in such a situation, this rule without preparation is an additional burden on the public. He clarified that until this rule is not implemented in other areas of NCR, like Gurugram and Noida, it should not be implemented in Delhi as well. Also, questions have been raised about the ANPR (Automatic Number Plate Recognition) camera system. Verma said that implementing it is technically and financially challenging.
High Court seeks response from government and CAQM
Here, while hearing the petition of the Delhi Petrol Dealers Association, the High Court has ordered the government and CAQM to file a reply by September. The petitioner said that petrol pump dealers have been given the responsibility to stop fueling 'end-of-life vehicles,' but they do not have legal rights. The court also said that if any action is taken against the dealers during this period, it should be brought to the notice of the court.
What is the rule?
As per the instructions of CAQM, there is a ban on fueling 10-year-old diesel and 15-year-old petrol vehicles in Delhi from July 1, 2025. Only CNG vehicles are exempt from this order. The purpose of this rule is to control air pollution in the capital, but due to the problems faced in its implementation process, now this policy has come under review again. Now all eyes are on the meeting of the Delhi government and CAQM, from which the final decision can come out regarding the future of the rule.
