New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Thursday scheduled an urgent hearing for December 3 to examine a petition linked to the worsening air quality across the Delhi–National Capital Region, observing that the matter demands continuous scrutiny.
A Bench led by Chief Justice Surya Kant, along with Justice Joymalya Bagchi, responded to submissions made by senior advocate Aparajita Singh, who serves as amicus curiae in the long-running case on air pollution. Singh warned the court that the region is experiencing an “alarming” phase, calling it nothing short of a public health emergency.
During the brief exchange, the Chief Justice questioned the limits of judicial intervention in combating pollution. “What can a court realistically do? We recognise that the situation in Delhi-NCR is hazardous, but there is no single cause behind it,” he remarked. He stressed that scientific and technical bodies are best equipped to accurately identify the sources contributing to the toxic air.
The discussion comes against the backdrop of the court’s November 19 observation, in which it asked the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) to evaluate whether schools should defer outdoor sports activities scheduled for November and December, given the persistently unsafe air. The court, however, refrained from imposing year-round curbs under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP), saying such emergency measures were never intended to function permanently and that long-term strategies must take precedence.
Following the amicus curiae’s request for immediate attention, the Chief Justice agreed to list the matter for hearing on Monday, signalling the court’s intent to maintain close oversight on the escalating pollution crisis.
