'Can't sit idle:' SC presses CAQM on Delhi air crisis

The Supreme Court on Monday said it cannot "sit idle" when the air pollution "crisis" looms large over Delhi and the adjoining National Capital Region (NCR), directing the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) to present an evaluation of the directives issued by the statutory body and their "real effect on the ground".

- Utkarsh Anand

"This is an issue common to Delhi and the entire NCR. None of us can sit idle with an assumption that this problem or crisis will go away on its own. This issue cannot be wished away," observed a bench of Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi, while stressing the urgency of a coordinated and accountable institutional response.

The bench noted that despite continued on repeated plans and advisories issued over several years, outcomes remain negligible and the situation continues to deteriorate each winter. "What we can do is to provide a platform for experts and all stakeholders to come together, deliberate and decide on an actionable plan. If there is an actionable plan, we can direct the states to align with it," the bench said.

During an exchange with Additional Solicitor General (ASG) Aishwarya Bhati appearing for CAQM, the bench questioned why the action plans already in place had failed to produce meaningful results.

"Why don't you ask yourself why your action plans have not been able to change the situation on the ground meaningfully? Why don't you revisit your action plan to see why some of your metrics did not produce the desired result?" asked the bench, directing CAQM to submit a detailed assessment explaining which directives, such as curbs on construction, transport restrictions and measures against stubble burning, actually yielded proportionate improvement.