The Supreme Court has sounded a serious alarm over Delhi’s toxic air quality, urging immediate action. Learn why the AQI remains ‘severe’ for the third day, the health risks involved, and what the strict GRAP 3 restrictions mean for Delhi-NCR residents.
Supreme Court Delivers Stern Warning as Toxic Air Chokes Delhi
The air we breathe in the National Capital Region (NCR) is no longer just poor—it’s a public health crisis. This week, the Delhi Air Quality Index (AQI) has plummeted into the ‘severe’ category for the third consecutive day, consistently breaching the dangerous 400 mark. The gravity of this environmental disaster has now been acknowledged by the nation’s highest judicial body, with the Supreme Court issuing a deeply concerning verbal warning that underscores the failure of immediate governance to safeguard citizen health.
In a dramatic courtroom exchange, Justice P.S. Narasimha expressed shock and alarm, urging lawyers to avoid physical court appearances and utilize the virtual hearing facility. His direct warning, captured by the phrase “Situation is very, very serious!… This pollution will cause permanent damage,” has reverberated across the political and administrative landscape. When senior advocates were seen wearing face masks, Justice Narasimha cautioned that “Even masks are not enough. They will not suffice,” a chilling statement that strips away the false sense of security many residents rely on.
This judicial intervention highlights a pervasive anxiety. Delhi is effectively enveloped in a toxic, dense smog, an unwelcome annual phenomenon that turns the capital into a veritable gas chamber. The air quality figures confirm the severity: AQI readings hover between 404 and 428, a range classified as ‘severe’ by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), posing serious risks even to healthy individuals and threatening those with existing respiratory or cardiac conditions.
