The Supreme Court on Thursday issued a sharp warning as Delhi continued to reel under suffocating smog, with pollution levels crossing the “severe” threshold yet again. Describing the situation as “very, very serious,” the apex court cautioned that residents were facing the risk of permanent health damage.
A thick layer of haze engulfed the capital, pushing the Air Quality Index (AQI) in several areas beyond 400, a level considered hazardous to health.
Inside the courtroom, Justice PS Narasimha paused proceedings to address the worsening air. “Why are you all appearing here? We have the virtual hearing facility, please avail it. This pollution will cause permanent damage” he told lawyers.
When Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal, also a Rajya Sabha MP, remarked that everyone was wearing masks, Justice Narasimha replied bluntly, “Masks will not suffice. We will take this up with the Chief Justice.”
The warning from the bench came on a day when emergency measures under Stage III of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) remained in effect. The restrictions include a halt on non-essential construction, a ban on older BS-III petrol and BS-IV diesel vehicles, and mandatory online classes for students up to Class 5.
Meanwhile, the Supreme Court has sought detailed status reports from the Punjab and Haryana governments on the measures taken to prevent stubble burning, a major cause of seasonal smog in Delhi-NCR. The court-appointed amicus curiae, Senior Advocate Aparajita Singh, had earlier raised concerns about discrepancies in official AQI data.
