Supreme Court Schedules Hearing on Delhi-NCR Air Pollution Plea for Dec 17 Amid Severe Smog
Bench flags poor implementation of pollution control measures as Delhi’s AQI hits 498
New Delhi, Dec 15: The Supreme Court on Monday announced that it will hear a plea concerning the worsening air pollution in Delhi-NCR on December 17, as the region continues to grapple with severe smog.
A bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and Vipul M Pamcholi noted submissions by senior advocate Aprajita Singh, acting as amicus curiae, who highlighted that while preventive measures exist, their implementation by authorities remains poor. Singh stressed that compliance with existing protocols only occurs when directed by the court.
“This will come up before a three judge bench on Wednesday. It will come up,” the CJI confirmed.
The amicus also raised concerns about the health of children, citing instances where schools continue to conduct outdoor sports activities, defying prior court orders.
The CJI remarked, “We know the problem. Let us pass orders that can be complied with. While some directions can be forcibly imposed, in urban metropolitan cities, people have their own lifestyle. But the poor are the worst affected.”
Earlier, the court had ruled that air pollution cases cannot be treated as “customary” winter only matters and will now be heard twice a month to identify short and long term solutions.
On Monday, Delhi remained under a thick blanket of smog, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) at 498, categorised as ‘severe’. Thirty-eight stations recorded severe air quality, while two stations were marked ‘very poor’. Jahangirpuri, with an AQI of 498, reported the worst pollution levels across the city.
According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), AQI levels are classified as:
0–50: Good
51–100: Satisfactory
101–200: Moderate
201–300: Poor
301–400: Very Poor
401–500: Severe
Sunday marked Delhi’s most polluted day this winter, with an AQI of 461, and the second-worst December air quality day on record, as weak winds and low temperatures trapped pollutants close to the ground.
