The Supreme Court is set to resume hearing a public interest litigation concerning severe air pollution in Delhi and the adjoining National Capital Region.
The hearing gains urgency as stubble burning in neighbouring states and stagnant weather patterns continue to push air quality into the ‘severe’ zone.
As per the cause list uploaded on the Supreme Court website, a Bench of Chief Justice of India BR Gavai and Justices K Vinod Chandran and NV Anjaria will take up the case on 17 November.
During the previous hearing on 12 November, the CJI-led Bench expressed deep concern over Delhi’s deteriorating air quality, noting that the AQI had crossed 450 at several locations.
Despite the implementation of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP), the Court observed that effective improvement remained elusive.
The Bench directed the governments of Punjab and Haryana to file detailed affidavits outlining the steps taken to reduce stubble burning, a major contributor to winter pollution in the region.
Pollution Levels Trigger Alarm
Senior advocate Gopal Sankaranarayanan informed the Court that hazardous conditions persisted despite restrictions.
He highlighted that routine construction activities, including drilling outside the Supreme Court premises, continued unchecked.
He urged that such non-essential construction should be halted temporarily in the interest of public health.
Senior advocate Aparajita Singh, assisting the Bench as amicus curiae, warned of discrepancies in official pollution data and described the situation as ‘very dangerous’.
The Bench has been monitoring the crisis closely. It earlier sought a detailed report from the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) regarding enforcement mechanisms.
It also asked the Centre to consider stricter penalties, including arrests, to deter farmers from burning crop residue.
The Court observed that without strong deterrence, the annual pollution cycle in Delhi-NCR would continue unchecked.
Judges Raise Health Concerns Amid Toxic Air
Recently, Justice PS Narasimha urged advocates to avoid appearing physically in the Supreme Court due to the hazardous air.
He asked them to opt for virtual hearings instead, warning that prolonged exposure to the toxic air could cause ‘permanent damage’.
“Situation is very, very serious! Why are you all appearing here?” he remarked during a hearing.
He added, “We have the virtual hearing facility. Please avail it. This pollution will cause permanent damage.”
Monday’s hearing will determine the next set of directions issued to state governments and central authorities.
With pollution levels remaining dangerously high, the Supreme Court’s intervention is likely to shape the immediate and long-term response to Delhi-NCR’s recurring winter smog crisis.
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