NEW DELHI – The Supreme Court will resume its hearing on Monday over Delhi’s worsening air pollution after a public‑interest lawsuit brought attention to the city’s hazardous air quality.
The case becomes urgent as stubble burning in nearby states and stagnant weather patterns keep Delhi‑NCR’s air‑quality index (AQI) in the severe range.
On the Court’s website, a bench led by Chief Justice B. R. Gavai, joined by Justices K. Vinod Chandran and N. V. Anjaria, will take up the matter on November 17.
In the prior session on November 12, the bench asked the Punjab and Haryana governments to file detailed affidavits outlining the steps taken to curb stubble burning. The court noted that several sites in Delhi‑NCR recorded AQI readings above 450.
Senior advocate Gopal Sankaranarayanan said even routine construction work, such as drilling outside the Supreme Court’s own premises, continues despite the dangerous conditions. “For a few days, such activities should stop,” he urged.
Amicus curiae Aparajita Singh highlighted discrepancies in official pollution data and warned that the situation has become “very dangerous.”
The bench also requested a report from the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) on its monitoring and enforcement. It urged the central government to consider stricter penalties, including arrests, to deter farmers from burning crop residue.
Justice P. S. Narasimha recently urged lawyers to use virtual hearings instead of appearing in person. “This pollution can cause permanent damage,” he said. “We have the virtual hearing facility. Please avail it.”
Key topics: Supreme Court, Delhi air pollution, stubble burning, severe AQI, Graded Response Action Plan, air‑quality index, Punjab, Haryana, CAQM, clean air, Delhi‑NCR, hazardous conditions, virtual hearings, environmental justice.
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