Wed Dec 17 23:43:39 UTC 2025: News Article:
Delhi High Court Slams Government Inaction on Used Vehicle Regulations After Red Fort Bombing
New Delhi, December 18, 2025 – The Delhi High Court has sharply criticized the city government for its failure to effectively regulate the sale and transfer of used vehicles, highlighting a major security lapse exposed by a recent bomb blast near the Red Fort. During a hearing on Wednesday, a bench headed by Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela expressed serious concerns that an unregistered used car was used in the incident, which occured November 10.
The court demanded a detailed response from the Delhi government regarding the enforcement of regulations on authorized used vehicle dealers. “A car changes four hands but the original owner has not changed,” the bench observed, questioning the government’s oversight. “How are you permitting this? You will take a call when two-three more bomb blasts take place?”
The court was hearing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by the Towards Happy Earth Foundation, which argues that the Central Motor Vehicles Rules (55A to 55H), introduced in December 2022 to regulate authorized dealers of registered vehicles, are failing due to loopholes and practical hurdles.
The petition, presented by advocate Vijay Kasana, pointed out that the current rules only recognize the initial transfer to an authorized dealer, leaving subsequent transactions unmonitored. This “break in the chain of custody” undermines the intent of accountability, according to the foundation. Only a small percentage of India’s estimated 30,000 to 40,000 used-vehicle dealers are registered. The 11 year old vehicle involved in the Red Fort bombing was sold multiple times, remaining registered under the original owner’s information.
The court has scheduled the matter for further hearing in January 2026.
First Piper 