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New Delhi, Nov 17 (IANS) The Supreme Court is set to resume hearing on Monday on a public interest litigation (PIL) related to hazardous air pollution levels in the national capital and surrounding areas.
The hearing assumes significance as Delhi-NCR’s air quality continues to fall into the “severe” category due to stubble burning and stagnant weather conditions.
According to the cause list uploaded on the apex court website, Chief Justice of India (CJI) BR Gavai and Justice K. A bench of Justice Vinod Chandran and Justice NV Anjaria will hear the case further on November 17.
In the last hearing on November 12, the bench led by CJI Gavai had expressed concern over the deteriorating air quality despite the implementation of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP), and directed the governments of Punjab and Haryana to file detailed affidavits outlining the steps taken to curb stubble burning.
The top court took note of the submissions that the AQI had crossed 450 at many places in Delhi-NCR.
Senior lawyer Gopal Sankaranarayanan had pointed out that routine construction activities, including drilling work, outside the Supreme Court’s own premises were continuing despite dangerous conditions.
“Such activities should be stopped at least for a few days,” Sankaranarayanan told the top court.
Senior lawyer Aparajita Singh, amicus curiae assisting the Supreme Court, had also flagged discrepancies in the official pollution data and warned that the situation had become “very dangerous”.
The CJI Gavai-led bench, which is closely monitoring the issue, had earlier sought a report from the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) on its monitoring and enforcement mechanism and also asked the Center to consider stricter penalties, including arrest, to stop farmers from burning crop residue.
Recently, apex court judge Justice PS Narasimha urged advocates to avoid physical presence at Supreme Court proceedings and instead opt for virtual hearings, warning that Delhi’s toxic air could cause “permanent damage”.
“The situation is very serious! Why are you all coming here?” Justice Narasimha commented.
“We have the facility of virtual hearing. Please take advantage of it. This pollution will cause permanent damage,” he said.
–IANS
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