SC: No Coercive Action Against Owners of Old Diesel, Petrol Vehicles in Delhi

August 12, 2025

New Delhi, August 12: The Supreme Court of India on Tuesday has directed that no coercive action will be taken against the owners of 10-year old diesel vehicles and 15-year old petrol vehicles in Delhi.

“In the meantime no coercive steps to be taken against the owners of the car on the ground that they are 10 years old in respect to diesel vehicles and 15 years old with respect to petrol vehicles. List it after 4 weeks,” CJI Gavai was quoted as saying by Bar and Bench.

Background

The order comes amid ongoing implementation of Delhi’s vehicle deregistration policy, which restricts the use of diesel vehicles over 10 years old and petrol vehicles over 15 years due to air pollution concerns.

Vehicle owners had approached the court seeking protection from punitive actions, including fines, towing, and deregistration notices being issued by Delhi authorities.

The ban on old vehicles dates back to 2015 after the National Green Tribunal directed hat older vehicles should not be allowed to function in Delhi-NCR in order to combat pollution levels in the capital region. This 2015 order was upheld by the Supreme Court in 2018.