Respected Delhi Ministers,
I am writing as a concerned citizen and a law student to express certain critical observations and constructive suggestions regarding the recently implemented policy for scrapping and banning the refueling of End-of-Life (EoL) vehicles—petrol vehicles older than 15 years and diesel vehicles older than 10 years—at fuel stations within Delhi. While the policy aligns with the environmental objectives and judicial mandates of the Hon’ble National Green Tribunal and the Hon’ble Supreme Court, its current implementation raises multiple legal, operational, and socio-economic concerns:
Legal and Procedural Concerns
The policy is legally rooted in prior court judgments; however, its execution appears to bypass key procedural safeguards:
• A blanket age-based restriction without a mechanism for fitness/emission reassessment undermines principles of equity under Article 14 of the Constitution.
• The lack of a formal grievance redressal or appeal mechanism for wrongful denial of fuel or impoundment violates due process under Article 21.
Socio-Economic Impact on Middle-Class Vehicle Owners of prevailing illogical classification of vehicles
This policy has deeply distressed thousands of middle-class families. Let me share a real example of a twitter user @talk2anuradha, her parents own a 15-year-old petrol car that has barely been driven—only around 20,000 km to date. The vehicle runs like new, its engine has never been opened, and it passes every Pollution Under Control (PUC) test with ease. By every practical standard, this car is roadworthy and environmentally compliant. If there is no use of PUC, then why this very standard (PUC) exists, a mere paper gimmick or red-tapism?
And yet, under the current age-based blanket rule, it is now legally categorized as “end-of-life,” banned from refuelling and facing forced scrappage. This not only erases the vehicle’s remaining utility but also punishes a family that chose to maintain and conserve instead of consume and discard.
After already contributing 30–40% in taxes on vehicle purchase, fuel, maintenance, insurance, and road tax, middle-class families are now being told they must surrender or scrap a perfectly usable asset. This abrupt confiscation—without fair compensation or the option to retrofit—places an unnecessary burden and almost compels people to enter new vehicle loans.
This is transformation of environment pollution to economic pollution for lakhs. It Feels like business policy of automobile companies, more and lesser environment policy.
Such an approach discourages sustainability and penalizes responsible ownership, often pushing families into debt. Declaring 10- or 15-year-old vehicles as scrap is causing immense hardship to the middle-class population. These are people who, after years of saving and sacrificing personal needs, often repay car loans over 5 to 7 years—only to be told later that their well-maintained vehicle is now “junk.” This feels like a Tughlaqi decree—arbitrary, harsh, and disconnected from ground reality.
It will be wise to have a hybrid model combining age and distance covered limit with emission-based fitness assessments. If concern is environment and reduction of emission from automobiles only then why to target automobiles rather than pollution. It is very arbitrary, irrational, un-intelligible differentia.
Most importantly, Why to scrap if it can be recycled and reuse without scrapping.
I sincerely appreciate the Delhi Government’s commitment to cleaner air and public health, but urge you to recalibrate the policy in a manner that is both environmentally responsible and socially just and economically sound, not another financial blast on people. I am hopeful that the Delhi govt will consider these inputs seriously.
Thank you for your attention and service.
Kunal, BA LLb Student, Panjab University and concerned citizen.
