THE SUPREME COURT TODAY directed the Delhi government to submit an affidavit explaining the type of devices used to measure the Air Quality Index (‘AQI’) in the city and how effective they are in recording pollution levels.
A Bench Chief Justice B.R. Gavai, and Justices K. Vinod Chandran and N.V. Anjaria, directed the Delhi government to place the information on record by the day after tomorrow. “Let the GNCTD explain the nature of the equipment being used and their efficiency in gauging AQI,” the Bench said.
Amicus curiae Aparajita Singh referred to media reports that water was allegedly being sprayed near certain monitoring stations, potentially altering AQI readings. She also submitted news reports highlighting these alleged incidents.
Appearing for the Centre, Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati said that water sprinkling was happening in many parts of the city and added that “political parties are circulating such videos.”
Amicus curiae Singh further pointed out that farm-fire incidents were not being fully captured in the official data. She reiterated that farmers require adequate machinery to manage crop residue without burning it, noting that equipment-based disposal remains the long-term solution. She also pointed to the narrow window that was available to the farmers between harvesting the paddy crop and preparing the fields and sowing wheat. She said that was because of Punjab law on water conservation that compels farmers to delay paddy sowing.
Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati said that water sprinkling was happening in many parts of the city and added that “political parties are circulating such videos.”
The bench also asked the Union government to present a comprehensive plan for dealing with Delhi-NCR’s annual pollution crisis. It directed the Chief Secretaries of Punjab and Haryana to ensure strict implementation of the CAQM’s November 13, 2025 directives on preventing stubble burning.
Senior Advocate Gopal Sankaranarayanan argued, on behalf of one of the petitioners, that the situation this year had worsened and urged a halt on construction activities in the capital.
The Bench declined the suggestion, observing that restrictions under the graded response system were formulated by domain experts. “We do not have the expertise to substitute those scientific assessments,” the Court said. It added that stopping all activity in Delhi was not feasible because a “large segment of the population depends on such activities for their livelihood.”
The matter concerning Delhi’s air pollution has been posted for further hearing on November 19.