A public interest litigation (PIL) has been filed before the Supreme Court seeking immediate judicial intervention to address what it terms a “nationwide public health emergency” triggered by worsening air pollution levels across India.
The petition, filed by wellness advocate and Fit India Movement champion Luke Christopher Coutinho, contends that despite existing environmental laws and repeated government policy declarations, air quality in both urban and rural areas remains “consistently poor, dangerous, and violative of the fundamental right to life.”
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“The situation has reached a stage where over 1.4 billion citizens are forced to inhale toxic air daily — a direct violation of Article 21 of the Constitution,” the plea states.
The petition further highlights that the annual average concentrations of PM2.5 and PM10 pollutants in several major Indian cities — including Delhi, Mumbai, Lucknow, Kolkata, Chennai, and Patna — routinely exceed the permissible limits prescribed under the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS), framed by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.
It calls for urgent and comprehensive measures to tackle India’s escalating air pollution crisis, which continues to endanger public health despite years of policy efforts and environmental regulation.
(This story is published from a syndicated feed)
