Delhi Air Pollution: "We Don't Have a Magic Wand," Says CJI Surya Kant; Urges Scientists for Permanent Solution

"We all know the problem. The real solution has to come from experts and scientists. Thinking there is only one cause of Delhi pollution is a grave mistake," CJI Surya Kant remarked during the hearing of a public interest litigation (PIL) on Delhi-NCR air pollution. The Supreme Court has posted the matter for further hearing on December 1, 2025.

CJI Shares Personal Experience: "One-Hour Walk Made Me Unwell"

In a rare personal disclosure from the bench, CJI Surya Kant revealed that even a one-hour evening walk in Delhi left him feeling unwell due to severe air pollution. "I walked for an hour on Tuesday evening and my health deteriorated because of the pollution," he said, highlighting how the crisis is now affecting everyone, including top judicial officers.

The court is also seriously considering shifting to virtual hearings and exempting senior advocates above 60 years from physical appearances due to the hazardous air quality in Delhi.

GRAP-3 Restrictions Lifted as Delhi AQI Improves Slightly

In a minor relief, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) revoked Stage 3 of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP-3) on Wednesday after Delhi's Air Quality Index (AQI) showed marginal improvement. The AQI dropped to 327 ("Very Poor") from over 400 in the "Severe" category earlier this month.

Key relaxations under the lifted GRAP-3 include:

- End of 50% work-from-home mandate for government and private offices

- Resumption of full in-person classes in schools (hybrid mode discontinued)

- Lifting of ban on BS-3 petrol and BS-4 diesel vehicles in Delhi-NCR

Delhi Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa confirmed the rollback of WFH orders following CAQM directions.

Alarming National Picture: 60% of Indian Districts Fail Air Quality Standards

A new satellite-based report by the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA) has painted a grim picture of air pollution across India:

- 447 out of 749 districts (nearly 60%) recorded annual average PM2.5 levels above India’s national standard of 40 µg/m³

- 19 states have annual PM2.5 averages exceeding the national limit

- Zero districts in India meet the WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³

- The 50 most polluted districts are concentrated in Delhi, Haryana, Bihar, and Assam

- Delhi, Punjab, Haryana, and several northeastern states remain polluted round the year except during monsoon

The Supreme Court has made it clear: judicial orders can enforce short-term measures, but long-term solutions to India’s air pollution crisis must come from scientific innovation and multi-sectoral action. As winter approaches, all eyes are now on whether Delhi’s air quality will deteriorate again in the coming days.