Supreme Court Ruling on CAQM’s Delay in Air Quality Control Measures

• The Supreme Court of India has ordered Stage-IV of the Graded Response Plan (GRAP) to continue even if the air quality index (AQI) improves from the “severe-plus” threshold of 450.

• Justices A.S. Oka and Augustine George Masih criticized the CAQM for waited for air to improve before taking preemptive action.

• The court ordered status quo on heightened restrictions against air pollution until further directives are issued.

• The court found the CAQM’s approach “completely wrong” and directed all State governments within the National Capital Region (NCR) to strictly implement the GRAP-IV restrictions.

• The court ordered the Central panel to examine if further stringent actions could be implemented to reduce air toxicity.

• The court also ordered the CAQM to take an immediate call on GRAP-IV curbs, including a directive for offices in the NCR to work at 50% capacity.