New Delhi: In a crucial development, the Supreme Court of India is set to hear a plea on Monday demanding the enforcement of measures to combat the alarming air pollution levels in the national capital. As residents awoke to hazardous air quality conditions on Sunday, the Air Quality Index (AQI) soared to a staggering 429, categorizing it as 'severe' according to the 'Sameer App,' which provides real-time updates from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).* The dire situation was evident with the 24-hour average AQI recorded at 417 at 4 PM on Saturday, pushing the urgency for intervention. The bench, consisting of Justices Abhay S. Oka and Augustine George Masih, is slated to address the plea that highlights the rising pollution levels threatening Delhi’s status as one of the world's most polluted cities.
The Supreme Court had previously acknowledged the necessity for immediate action on November 14, agreeing to expedite the hearing after senior advocate Aparajita Singh, acting as an amicus curiae, raised concerns regarding the deteriorating air quality in the city. Singh communicated with the Commission of Air Quality Management (CAQM) to ensure they present their strategies for mitigating pollution during the hearing. This is not the first time the Supreme Court has intervened regarding pollution issues in Delhi.
On November 11, the court expressed grave concern over violations of its firecracker ban during Diwali celebrations, emphasizing that no religion endorses practices that contribute to pollution. The court urged the Delhi government to deliberate on the possibility of enforcing a year-round ban on firecrackers within a fortnight. The apex court has consistently upheld the right to live in a pollution-free environment as a fundamental right under Article 21 of the Constitution. As the Supreme Court prepares to deliberate on this pressing issue, the citizens of Delhi anxiously await effective solutions to their chronic air quality crisis.
