Tue Dec 23 03:00:00 UTC 2025: ## News Article: Delhi Chokes on Smog as Experts Call for Constitutional Right to Clean Air
New Delhi – December 23, 2025 – As winter descends upon the Indian capital, Delhi and its surrounding National Capital Region (NCR) are once again battling a thick blanket of smog, triggering serious concerns about public health. The hazardous air quality, primarily caused by particulate matter from fossil fuels, industrial processes, and agricultural practices, continues to plague the city despite government efforts to implement work-from-home policies and hybrid school models.
The situation has prompted renewed calls for a constitutional amendment explicitly enshrining the right to a clean and healthy environment. Experts argue that while existing laws and judicial interpretations recognize this right implicitly under Article 21 (right to life), an express inclusion in the Constitution would strengthen its enforceability and place equal responsibility on both the state and its citizens.
The article highlights that the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has amended the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP), making school closures mandatory under severe pollution levels. State governments are now also required to stagger public office hours to mitigate congestion.
Despite existing environmental protection measures and constitutional provisions, privatization and economic liberalization have contributed to environmental degradation, necessitating judicial intervention. The article emphasizes the significance of principles like the “precautionary principle” and the “polluter pays principle” in addressing environmental challenges.
Furthermore, the public trust doctrine, which considers the state a trustee of natural resources held for the benefit of the people, needs to be enforced in order to prevent pollution.
The article concludes that given the ongoing struggles to combat air pollution and protect the environment effectively, it is imperative that India explicitly guarantees its citizens the right to a clean and healthy environment within its Constitution. This would empower individuals to demand accountability and ensure that environmental protection becomes a fundamental duty for all.
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