New Delhi: Delhi is grappling with a controversial policy concerning older vehicles, prompting a potential Supreme Court showdown. The 2018 order mandating the de-registration of petrol vehicles older than 15 years and diesel vehicles older than 10 years has sparked significant public backlash. This stems from reports of fuel stations refusing service to owners of these vehicles, leading to widespread inconvenience and frustration.

Lieutenant Governor V.K. Saxena has intervened, urging the Delhi government to seek a Supreme Court review of the 2018 order. In a letter to Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, Saxena expressed concern about the policy’s impact on citizens, emphasising the emotional attachment many have to vehicles purchased with hard-earned money. He described the mass scrapping of even well-maintained vehicles as “a travesty of justice.”

Saxena’s call for a review is not simply based on emotional grounds. He argues that the current policy, which relies solely on vehicle age, is insufficient and inequitable. He advocates for a more comprehensive approach that incorporates technological advancements and focuses on emission testing as a more accurate measure of a vehicle’s environmental impact.

Furthermore, he highlights that vehicular emissions are just one contributor to the NCR’s air quality issues, urging a broader pollution mitigation strategy with clearly defined timelines and investment plans.

The LG’s letter also raises a point of contention regarding the Centre’s authority to set age limits for vehicles. He suggests that this authority cannot vary geographically. The implementation of the policy has been temporarily halted pending the outcome of the potential Supreme Court intervention, as per his letter.