The Delhi High Court has sought a reply from the Delhi Government in response to a writ petition filed by the Delhi Petrol Dealers Association, which challenges the prosecution of fuel station owners for supplying petrol or diesel to End-of-Life Vehicles (ELVs).
ELVs are defined under the policy as petrol vehicles older than 15 years and diesel vehicles older than 10 years. These restrictions came into effect from July 1, 2025, under a policy aimed at reducing vehicular pollution and managing traffic congestion in the National Capital Region (NCR).
The petition, titled Delhi Petrol Dealers Association v. Government of NCT of Delhi & Anr (W.P.(C) 8855/2025), was heard by Justice Mini Pushkarna, who issued notice to the government and directed them to file a response within four weeks. The matter will next be heard on September 8, 2025.
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“In case any members of the petitioners’ association are penalised in terms of the aforesaid Direction No. 89 dated 23rd April, 2025, liberty is granted to the petitioners to bring the said fact to the notice of this Court.”
— Justice Mini Pushkarna
The association is not fundamentally opposed to the intent of Direction No. 89, which prohibits supplying fuel to ELVs. However, it argues that the burden of implementation has unfairly fallen on petrol pump owners and their staff, who are neither trained nor legally empowered to enforce such regulations.
“The SOP has imposed excessive, irrational, and disproportionate liability on fuel station owners by holding them accountable even for inadvertent lapses,”
— Petitioners' Counsel to the Court
They also challenge the legality of the order dated May 13, 2025, and specific provisions of the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) dated June 17, 2025 — namely, paragraphs 4.2.5, 4.2.7, and 5.1 — which direct penalties under Section 192 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 for violations of the ELV fuel ban.
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The counsel emphasized that such punitive action is arbitrary and goes beyond what is reasonable or proportionate, especially when the alleged violations could be due to factors outside the control of the petrol pump staff.
“Our clients are willing to cooperate fully with the policy objectives, but the current framework unfairly targets them for implementation failures they have no practical means to control.”
— Counsel representing the Petrol Dealers Association
The Court granted liberty to the association to return with grievances if any members are penalized under the policy while the matter remains pending.
The hearing remains ongoing, and all eyes are now on the government's upcoming reply to the Delhi High Court.
Case detail : Delhi Petrol Dealers Association v Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi and another W.P.(C) 8855/2025
