Overview

• The Delhi government has formally requested the Commission for Air Quality Management to suspend its fuel-denial directive for end-of-life vehicles until enforcement mechanisms are improved.
• CAQM’s policy, effective July 1, blocks petrol vehicles older than 15 years and diesel vehicles older than 10 years from refuelling by using ANPR cameras linked to the VAHAN database.
• Officials reported persistent ANPR glitches, improper camera placement, sensor failures and challenges in reading high-security registration plates as major enforcement hurdles.
• The Delhi High Court has issued notices on a legal challenge by the Petrol Dealers Association arguing that fuel stations lack authority to enforce the ban.
• Advocates and experts have urged a shift toward emissions-based standards and stronger PUC enforcement rather than relying solely on vehicle age cutoffs.