Wed Nov 19 10:24:14 UTC 2025: Here’s a summary of the text and a rewritten news article:
Summary:
On November 19, 2025, the Supreme Court granted the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) broad authority to implement proactive measures to combat Delhi-NCR’s severe air pollution crisis. The court emphasized consultation with stakeholders and welcomed recommendations for both short-term and long-term solutions. Key proposals from the CAQM include advancing stricter restrictions currently associated with GRAP IV to the ongoing GRAP III stage, differentiated public transport pricing, improved traffic management, and vehicle aggregator policy enforcement. The court also addressed concerns about children participating in outdoor sports during peak pollution season. Long-term measures suggested involve reviewing EV policies, increasing environmental protection charges on large diesel vehicles, prohibiting new coal power plants near Delhi, and improving waste management. The court also addressed the need for filling vacancies in pollution control boards and providing support to affected daily-wage laborers. Regular monitoring of the situation by the Supreme Court will continue, with the next hearing scheduled for December 10th.
News Article:
Delhi Air Crisis: Supreme Court Empowers Commission to Take Sweeping Action
NEW DELHI – The Supreme Court today handed the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) unprecedented power to tackle Delhi-NCR’s crippling air pollution. The move comes as the city continues to grapple with “very poor” air quality, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) hitting 344 and several stations recording “severe” levels.
Chief Justice B.R. Gavai, heading the Supreme Court Bench, stated that “any proactive measure of CAQM to reduce air pollution is always welcome,” emphasizing the urgency of the situation. However, the court also directed the CAQM to consult with relevant stakeholders before implementing any significant changes.
The CAQM has proposed a range of measures, including advancing stricter restrictions typically reserved for the most severe “GRAP IV” stage of pollution control to the current “GRAP III” stage. These include work-from-home mandates and 50% office attendance limitations. The Commission is also pushing for staggered office timings to be introduced even earlier, at the GRAP II stage, along with tiered pricing for public transport, expanded metro and bus services, and optimized traffic management.
Aparajita Singh, acting as amicus curiae, raised concerns about schools holding sports events during peak pollution months, calling them dangerous to children. The Court concurred, instructing the CAQM to issue directives to address this issue.
Looking towards long-term solutions, the CAQM is advocating for a review of electric vehicle policies, a significant increase in environmental taxes on high-end diesel vehicles, and a ban on new coal-fired power plants within 300 kilometers of Delhi. They have also proposed concrete steps to manage waste, construction debris, and upgrade road infrastructure.
The Supreme Court has further ordered that vacant positions in pollution control boards be filled and that daily-wage laborers, impacted by existing restrictions, receive subsistence allowances.
The Court underscored the necessity of ongoing monitoring of the air pollution crisis and has scheduled the next hearing for December 10th. This will allow for continued evaluation of the implemented measures and further address the pressing environmental concerns impacting the region.
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