Fuel Ban Row: Rekha Gupta Seeks Relief from Supreme Court, Bats for Uniform Vehicle Rules in Delhi

July 7, 2025: Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta has made it clear that her government will approach the Supreme Court to seek uniform rules regarding old vehicles across the country — especially when it comes to banning older diesel and petrol vehicles.

This move came soon after Delhi’s Lieutenant Governor, VK Saxena, wrote to CM Gupta questioning the logic behind banning 10-year-old diesel vehicles in Delhi, even when the same vehicles are allowed on roads in other states.

“It doesn’t make sense to treat a diesel car as unfit in Delhi but roadworthy in another city under the same law,” said Saxena in his letter. He further pointed out that this kind of rule goes against the principle of equal treatment under the law.

Delhi Seeks Review of Supreme Court Ban on Overaged Vehicles

The Lieutenant Governor also suggested that the Delhi government should file a review petition in the Supreme Court. The aim? To inform the court about the steps already taken to reduce pollution in the city and the changed environmental scenario — and to seek reconsideration of its previous orders.

CAQM Ban: Government Calls it Technologically Unfeasible

Last week, Delhi’s Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa sent a letter to the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) urging them to hold off on the recent fuel ban imposed on older vehicles.

Starting July 1, as per CAQM’s directive, vehicles older than 10 years (diesel) and 15 years (petrol) — irrespective of which state they are registered in — were not allowed to refuel at Delhi petrol pumps.

But Minister Sirsa strongly opposed this move. “This ban cannot be implemented due to technological challenges,” he wrote in his letter to CAQM Chairman Rajesh Verma.

Chief Minister Promises to Represent Public Sentiment in Court

Speaking at an event on Sunday, Chief Minister Rekha Gupta said the government is fully aware of the people’s concerns. “We will present our case in front of the Supreme Court. The same rules that apply in the rest of the country should also apply in Delhi. We don’t want Delhiites to face unnecessary trouble,” she said.

She also added that previous governments failed to act on pollution, forcing the National Green Tribunal (NGT) and courts to step in. “But now things have changed. We’ve taken steps, and our environment minister has written to CAQM explaining why the ban isn’t practical for Delhi right now.”

The CM also pointed out a loophole in the policy: “Even if fuel is denied in Delhi, people can easily refuel in neighbouring areas like Noida, Gurgaon, or Ghaziabad. So how effective is the ban really?”

The Ban Isn’t New – But the Enforcement Is

It’s important to note that the ban on end-of-life (EOL) vehicles isn’t new. In 2018, the Supreme Court had already banned diesel vehicles older than 10 years and petrol vehicles older than 15 years in Delhi. Even earlier, in 2014, the National Green Tribunal had prohibited the parking of such vehicles in public places.

What’s new this time is the fueling restriction. Denying fuel at the pump has been introduced as a stricter measure to enforce the existing ban.

Government Aligns With LG’s Suggestions

Environment Minister Sirsa confirmed that the Delhi government agrees with the Lieutenant Governor’s suggestions. “We are acting on them. The Chief Minister will direct the Chief Secretary to take up the matter with the Supreme Court and even the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH),” he told reporters.

“Our position is clear — vehicles should be evaluated based on actual emissions, not just their age. That’s the fair approach,” he said.

One of LG Saxena’s five suggestions — writing to the CAQM — has already been acted upon, and the rest will be implemented step by step.

Public Outcry: 79% Against the Ban

Since the ban kicked in on July 1, social media has been flooded with criticism. A recent LocalCircles survey shows that 79% of Delhi’s vehicle owners are against the rule that stops older vehicles from getting fuel.

The general mood among Delhiites is that age shouldn’t be the only factor — the focus should be on how much pollution a vehicle emits, not how old it is.