Delhi pollution: Top court sets 24-hour deadline for Modi, Delhi govts

EXPRESSING concern over the deteriorating air quality in Delhi-NCR (National Capital Region), the Supreme Court of India on Thursday (2) set a 24-hour deadline for both the Indian and Delhi governments to come up with a serious plan to deal with the rising pollution level.

A bench of the apex court featuring Chief Justice NV Ramana, Justices DY Chandrachud and Surya Kant asked both the Narendra Modi and Arvind Kejriwal governments to “take a hard look at the situation and come up with a solution”.

The court noted that several directions issued by the Commission for Air Quality Management in the NCR and adjoining areas are not being implemented at the ground level and observed that one has to work accordingly in an emergency situation.

The Supreme Court of India (Photo: SAJJAD HUSSAIN/AFP/Getty Images).

“What is the commission doing? In a situation of emergency, you have to work quickly and with creativity. What is the point of the 20-30 member committee? Another burden on the state exchequer. We have to do something extraordinary otherwise it won’t work. We can’t infuse creativity in your bureaucracy,” the top court told Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, who appeared for the Indian government, in strong words.

Mehta sought one more day to respond to the concerns that the bench expressed, saying he “will talk to the highest authority”.

The bench then told the solicitor general, “Mr Mehta, we expect a serious real action, if you can’t do by tomorrow we are going to do. We are giving you 24 hours.”

“We think that nothing is happening as pollution level is increasing. We think that we are wasting our time. If the court, government and everyone are doing so much, why is pollution increasing anyone will ask this. What is going wrong then,” Ramana said.

'Adults working from home, children in schools'

The top court also took a dig at the Delhi government over opening of schools amid the rising pollution level in the national capital, saying when the authorities are implementing work from home for adults, why are children being forced to attend school.

“One thing you told was schools are closed, but schools are now open. Small children have to go in the morning in fog. There is no respect. You say there is work from home option. So elders will stay at home and children will go to school,” the court said.

Senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, who appeared for the Delhi government, told the court that the schools were reopened after the pollution levels came down but the option of attending online classes is still there.

“You cannot fire bullets from our shoulders, you have to take steps. You are government so you have to take action. You are saying whoever wants to come, come, you want to stay at home, stay. If you give an option, everyone will come, who wants to stay at home. We also have children, grandchildren. You have to take a call. Don’t tell us we have to take a call,” the bench said.

It also slammed the Delhi government saying nothing is being implemented except assurances and popularity slogans.

“Nothing has been followed. While we came to court, there are people sitting in the middle of the road with banners of save the environment, that's why we say only popularity slogans,” the court said.

The top court was set to hear on Friday (3) morning the plea seeking emergency steps to control the deteriorating air-quality situation in Delhi.