Delhi High Court to Hear Critical Petition Addressing Life-Threatening Air Pollution Crisis in National Capital

New Delhi:

The Delhi High Court has scheduled a hearing on Wednesday for a petition demanding immediate action to address the dangerous levels of air pollution in the national capital.

During an initial hearing, Justice Sachin Datta noted that the nature of the petition classifies it as a Public Interest Litigation (PIL), which requires it to be heard by the appropriate division bench.

The case will now be presented before Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela on Wednesday.

According to the petition, Delhi's ambient air quality has seen a dramatic decline over recent years, with Air Quality Index (AQI) frequently reaching 'very poor', 'severe', and 'hazardous' categories, particularly in winter months.

This escalating pollution crisis has led to ongoing and serious health complications among residents, especially affecting vulnerable populations such as children, elderly citizens, and those with pre-existing medical conditions.

The Greater Kailash-II Welfare Association filed the petition, calling on the court to mandate urgent, effective, and scientifically sound measures—both immediate and long-term—to combat the city's air pollution crisis.

The plea criticizes authorities for remaining "virtually inactive" as air quality progressively worsened, only implementing "Stage III" measures after the AQI had already surpassed critical thresholds.

The petition alleges that the government limited its response to prescribing paper measures without ensuring their practical implementation.

"Such belated and cosmetic action, without any real or substantial on-ground measures till date, has resulted only in further delay, recklessly endangering the lives and health of the people and demonstrating a complete disregard for the seriousness of the present public health emergency," states the plea.

It further notes that despite experts issuing a "red alert" on November 21, warning that Delhi's air had become "life-threatening," authorities failed to take appropriate, concrete, or effective action.

The petition mentions that numerous representations made to the authorities have yielded no results.

Named as respondents in the petition are the Delhi government, Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC), Central Pollution Control Committee (CPCC), Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM), Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), and Delhi Police.