THE SUPREME COURT on Thursday observed that it does not possess any “magic wand” to resolve the severe air pollution crisis in Delhi-NCR, stressing that only domain experts and scientists can provide effective solutions, given the multiple factors contributing to the deteriorating air quality.
“Courts do not have a magic wand” to fix the worsening pollution in Delhi and the National Capital Region, Chief Justice Surya Kant said while heading a Bench that also comprised Justice Joymalya Bagchi. The remark came after senior advocate and amicus curiae Aparajita Singh mentioned the matter urgently, describing the situation as “alarming and a health emergency.”
The Chief Justice reiterated that only scientific and expert assessments can guide meaningful policy responses. The Delhi-NCR is hit by severe air pollution every year during the Winter months.
Singh’s mentioning came a day after the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) revoked restrictions under the Graded Response Action Plan 3 (GRAP III), citing “improved air quality” in Delhi and adjoining regions over the past three days.
Expressing concern that the Air Quality Index continues to remain in the hazardous category, CJI Surya Kant asked what immediate directions the Court could issue to clean the air. Amicus curiae responded that effective enforcement—not a lack of measures—remained the real problem.
Listing the matter for further hearing on Monday, December 1, the CJI said the pollution crisis is caused by “not one reason but multiple reasons".
Acknowledging this, the Chief Justice remarked that air pollution matters should not be taken up ceremonially before Diwali or other festivals but require continuous monitoring.
Listing the matter for further hearing on Monday, December 1, the CJI said the pollution crisis is caused by “not one reason but multiple reasons,” and that “only domain experts can address the issue and suggest solutions.”
The observations also came a day after CJI Surya Kant shared his personal difficulty with the toxic air. On Wednesday, he told the Court that he could not go for his routine morning walk due to the AQI levels. Two days earlier, after completing his usual 55-minute walk, he had returned home feeling “discomforted,” a sensation that persisted for the next two days. “Now I walk only in the evening,” he said. Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, who was present in court, urged him to discontinue even the evening walks, pointing out that AQI levels in the evening too remain around 300–400 — which falls in the “very poor” category and poses serious health risks.