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Informist, Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2026

 

NEW DELHI – The Supreme Court on Tuesday directed the Commission for Air Quality Management in Delhi-National Capital Region to convene a meeting of experts within two weeks to identify the major causes of the worsening air quality index in the capital. The court asked the commission to prepare a report on the causes of pollution in the capital based on the deliberations at the meeting.

 

The bench, led by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, said the commission appeared to be in no hurry to identify the causes of worsening air pollution in the capital. It must realise that delays in finding solutions will lead to further complications and worsen air quality in the region, Chief Justice Kant said. The court asked the commission to consider long-term solutions to improve the region's air quality and implement them in a phased manner, prioritising the sources of the highest pollution.

 

In December, the Supreme Court had said the air pollution crisis has become an annual feature in the Delhi-National Capital Region and that a long-term plan was needed to tackle it. The apex court had asked the commission to revisit its plan and address issues related to urban mobility, cleaner industry and energy, stubble burning, and modes and manner of incentivising farmers to stop stubble burning. On Tuesday, the top court said that, instead of providing a concrete action plan, the commission has merely filed a status note that "does not reflect any seriousness on the part of the authority, and is unfortunately silent on most of the issues raised by this court."

 

In the last hearing, the apex court directed the Municipal Corporation of Delhi to consider temporarily suspending toll collection at nine toll plazas at the national capital's entry points, as vehicles stuck for hours at the borders were contributing to air pollution. On Tuesday, the municipal body filed an affidavit stating that toll plazas are an essential source of revenue and should be permitted to remain in operation. The top court asked the commission to consider the toll plaza issue without being influenced by the positions taken by different stakeholders.

 

The top court was hearing a case on rising air pollution levels in Delhi-National Capital Region and the issue of stubble burning in the neighbouring states. The 24-hour average Air Quality Index for Delhi at 1600 IST on Monday was 244, classified as poor.  End

 

IST, or Indian Standard Time, is five-and-a-half hours ahead of GMT

 

Reported by Surya Tripathi

Edited by Saji George Titus

 

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