‘Vehicle, Construction Bans Are Old, Failed Measures’: CJI Surya Kant On Delhi Pollution

New Delhi: Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant on Friday questioned the effectiveness of vehicle and construction bans to tackle Delhi’s worsening air pollution, describing them as outdated and ineffective measures.

The Supreme Court was informed that Delhi’s Air Quality Index (AQI) had crossed 400, falling in the severe category, with Diwali just two days away.

Senior advocate Aparajita Singh, assisting the court as amicus curiae, highlighted the health risks of prolonged exposure to toxic air and identified vehicular emissions as the biggest contributor to local pollution. She also stressed the need to address stubble burning, energy consumption and waste burning across the National Capital Region (NCR).

The CJI emphasised the need for sustainable solutions, suggesting that governments announce fixed procurement prices for crop residue and make machinery available to farmers through gram panchayats. He also noted that merely imposing restrictions could lead to more violations.

The bench also discussed the health impact of pollution on children and urged people to celebrate Diwali through traditional practices such as lighting diyas rather than extravagant displays.

The bench, comprising CJI Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana, said it would rely on the existing Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) framework unless alternative measures were supported by peer-reviewed research.