The Supreme Court on Tuesday came down heavily on the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM), stating that the pollution control body was not showing adequate seriousness in tackling Delhi’s worsening air quality or in acting on the court’s earlier recommendations.
Chief Justice of India Surya Kant questioned whether the CAQM had clearly identified the key contributors to pollution in Delhi-NCR and demanded a focused strategy to deal with emissions from heavy vehicles and ongoing construction work in the region.
Expressing dissatisfaction, the Chief Justice said the expert panel should outline pollution sources point-by-point rather than attributing the crisis largely to stubble burning. He noted that the highest levels of crop-residue burning were recorded during the COVID-19 pandemic, yet residents of Delhi witnessed unusually clear skies at the time.
“Have you truly identified the real causes? That is the core issue,” the Chief Justice remarked, pointing out that multiple research reports and expert opinions were already available in the public domain.
Justice Kant also objected to the CAQM’s request for a long adjournment, calling the suggestion to meet again only after January 2 unacceptable. The bench refused to delay proceedings for more than two weeks and said the matter would now be heard continuously until meaningful progress is seen.
The court’s sharp observations highlight growing judicial pressure on authorities to deliver tangible and coordinated action to curb Delhi-NCR’s hazardous air pollution levels.
(This story is published from a syndicated feed)
