Lagatar24 Desk
New Delhi, Nov 4: The Supreme Court on Friday decided to take up a plea asking for the court’s immediate involvement to stop Delhi’s growing air pollution levels.
A petitioner who appeared in person and said that “Delhi was choking” made the argument before a bench of Chief Justice of India (CJI) UU Lalit and Bela M Trivedi.
The court agreed to list the case for hearing on November 10, 2022, despite the bench’s reservations about hearing the case and asking the petitioner whether a petition under Article 32 of the Constitution was the appropriate route.
“What you are saying.. the situation definitely requires intervention. We are only saying if it requires intervention through 32 or something else“, the CJI said.
The petitioner said that the National Capital Region’s Air Quality Index (AQI) had crossed 500, making it the highest it had been in recent years.
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The petitioner cited parali (stubble) burning in the neighbouring states of Punjab and Haryana as the cause of the sudden increase in pollution.
The CJI emphasised that several experts disagreed that rising pollution was a result of stubble burning. However, the petitioner claimed that the only reason for the rise in pollution during the past week was stubble burning.
“When I compare AQI level in the past week.. it has increased. We cannot even walk freely. States should be asked to answer.”
The Court agreed to list the case for further hearing on November 10 after hearing the petitioner’s arguments.
