38.6c New Delhi, India, Friday, August 08, 2025
Top Stories Supreme Court
Political NEWS Legislative Corner Celebstreet International Videos
Subscribe Contact Us
close
Judiciary

Supreme Court enforces GRAP-4 measures to combat Delhi’s severe air pollution, warns against relaxation [Read Order]

By Jhanak Sharma      19 November, 2024 10:26 AM      0 Comments
Supreme Court enforces GRAP 4 measures to combat Delhis severe air pollution warns against relaxation

NEW DELHI: Stressing at the constitutional obligation of central and state governments to ensure citizens live in pollution free atmosphere, the Supreme Court on Monday said it will not allow the scaling down of the preventive measures against pollution in Delhi without its prior permission.

Supreme Court Mandates Immediate Anti-Pollution Measures: GRAP-4 Restrictions to Stay in Delhi-NCR

As the air quality in the national capital turned into severe category, the top court declared the implementation of GRAP 4 restrictions will continue even if AQI level drops below 450.

A bench of Justices Abhay S Oka and Augustine George Masih asked the Delhi-NCR states to immediately set up teams to enforce anti-air pollution restrictions, including stopping of physical classes upto class 12.

"We direct all the State Governments of the NCR area to strictly implement Stage IV of the GRAP forthwith. All the NCR State Governments will immediately constitute teams to monitor the implementation of the actions required under Stage IV of the GRAP. The NCR State Governments and the Central Government will have to immediately take a call on the actions provided in clauses 5, 6, 7 and 8 of Stage IV and place the decision taken on record before the next date," the bench said.

Air Quality Crisis: SC Directs Central and State Governments to Act on Farm Fires and Pollution Control

The court also directed them to create a grievance redressal mechanism to enable the citizens to lodge complaints about the violation of restrictions under Stage IV of the GRAP. It is pointed out that the Commission has a grievance redressal mechanism.

"We direct the Commission to look into the complaints and take prompt and immediate action thereon," the bench said.

It also directed the Centre to involve ISRO and collect data from Stationary Korean Satellite, instead of polar orbiting ones on farm fires from neighbouring states.

The court also criticised the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) for adopting a "completely wrong approach", as it decided to wait for improvement in AQI levels, which delayed the implementation of stage 3 and stage 4 of Graded Response Action PIan (GRAP).

Considering the issue of air pollution, the bench asked the Centre to make immediate arrangements for getting data from either Korean stationery satellites or any other stationery satellites so that data of stubble burning throughout the day can be made available. The bench said this data will enable states to take immediate actions.

Also Read : No religion encourages any activity which creates pollution: SC on firecrackers bursting amid severe air pollution

The court also said that the commission and Centre should also involve ISRO in taking this step so that all instances of farm burning, during the day can be reported to the concerned states.

During the hearing, the bench pulled up the Delhi government over the delay in the implementation of stage 4 of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP).

"How can you take risk in these matters by delaying the applicability of stage 4 of GRAP," the bench asked the Delhi government counsel.

The bench said the delay occurred even after the air quality index (AQI) touched alarming levels in the national capital.

The court noted the AQI crossed 400 on November 12, GRAP-3 was implemented only from November 14. GRAP-4 was enforced only with effect from Monday, though the AQI crossed 450 on Sunday.

The bench also felt CAQM was supposed to take preventive measures instead of waiting for the air quality to worsen.

The Delhi government counsel informed that bench that from Monday onwards, stage 4 of GRAP had been implemented. The counsel said that heavy vehicles have been banned from entering the national capital.

“The moment the AQI reaches between 300 and 400, stage 4 has to be invoked. How can you take risk in these matters by delaying applicability of stage 4 of GRAP,” the bench told the counsel.

The bench asked the counsel to apprise it of steps taken to curb air pollution levels.

"We won’t allow scaling down of preventive measures under stage 4 even if AQI goes below 450. Stage 4 will continue till court permits," the bench said.

The court fixed the matter for further hearing on November 22.

On Sunday, the CAQM announced stricter pollution control measures for the Delhi-NCR under GRAP-4, effective from 8 am on Monday, including a ban on truck entry and a temporary halt on construction at public projects.

The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) issued the order as Delhi's Air Quality Index (AQI) worsened, reaching 441 at 4 pm and rising to 457 by 7 pm due to unfavourable weather conditions.
 

[Read Order]



Share this article:

About:

Jhanak is a lawyer by profession and legal journalist by passion. She graduated at the top of her cl...Read more

Follow:
FacebookTwitterLinkedinInstagram


Leave a feedback about this
Related Posts
View All

Another CBI Officer Investigating Rakesh Asthana Moves SC Against Transfer, Makes Startling Revelations Another CBI Officer Investigating Rakesh Asthana Moves SC Against Transfer, Makes Startling Revelations

After A.K. Bassi, another CBI officer who was investigating corruption allegations against Special Director Rakesh Asthana moved the Supreme Court.

Ayodhya verdict: SC rules in favour of Ram Lalla, Sunni Waqf Board gets alternate land Ayodhya verdict: SC rules in favour of Ram Lalla, Sunni Waqf Board gets alternate land

SC bench led by CJI Ranjan Gogoi has allotted the dispute site to Ram Janmabhoomi Nyas, while directing the government to allot an alternate 5 acre land within Ayodhya to Sunni Waqf Board to build a mosque.

Supreme Court: Money Spent On Judiciary Less Than 1% In All States Except Delhi Supreme Court: Money Spent On Judiciary Less Than 1% In All States Except Delhi

The court guided all states to document their response to the commission's report within four weeks. If any of the states fail to file a response, it will be presumed that they have no objections to the recommendations made by the commission, the court said.

Supreme Court Top Panel Names Chief Justices for Bombay, Orissa and Meghalaya High Courts Supreme Court Top Panel Names Chief Justices for Bombay, Orissa and Meghalaya High Courts

On April 18, 2020, the Supreme Court Collegium recommended new Chief Justices for three High Courts. Justice Dipankar Datta was proposed as Chief Justice of the Bombay High Court, succeeding Justice B.P. Dharmadhikari. Justice Biswanath Somadder was nominated as Chief Justice of Meghalaya High Court, while Justice Mohammad Rafiq was recommended for transfer as Chief Justice of Orissa High Court.

TRENDING NEWS

in-house-procedure-had-legal-sanctity-sc-dismisses-justice-varmas-plea-against-recommendation-for-removal
Trending Judiciary
'In-house procedure had legal sanctity,' SC dismisses Justice Varma's plea against recommendation for removal

SC upholds in-house probe into Justice Varma, dismisses his plea against removal; says process is legally valid and judge’s conduct lacked credibility.

07 August, 2025 12:05 PM
sole-testimony-of-victim-even-without-medical-evidence-sufficient-to-uphold-rape-conviction-sc
Trending Judiciary
Sole testimony of victim even without medical evidence sufficient to uphold rape conviction: SC [Read Judgment]

SC: Victim’s sole testimony, even without medical evidence, sufficient to uphold rape conviction if found credible and consistent.

07 August, 2025 03:11 PM

TOP STORIES

bengaluru-court-convicts-ex-mp-prajwal-revanna-in-rape-case
Trending Judiciary
Bengaluru court convicts ex MP Prajwal Revanna in rape case

Bengaluru court convicts ex-MP Prajwal Revanna in rape case linked to explicit videos; one of four sexual abuse cases filed against him.

04 August, 2025 11:07 AM
sc-sets-aside-order-declaring-man-as-juvenile-on-basis-of-school-certificate
Trending Judiciary
SC sets aside order declaring man as juvenile on basis of school certificate [Read Judgment]

SC: School certificate from private school not valid proof of age, sets aside order declaring murder accused as juvenile.

04 August, 2025 11:24 AM
hp-may-vanish-in-thin-air-god-forbid-sc-on-ecological-imbalance-in-himachal-pradesh
Trending Judiciary
‘HP may vanish in thin air, God forbid', SC on ecological imbalance in Himachal Pradesh [Read Order]

SC warns HP may vanish due to ecological imbalance; seeks state’s action plan amid rising disasters, deforestation, and climate change threats.

04 August, 2025 11:31 AM
sc-grants-4-weeks-time-to-centre-to-frame-guidelines
Trending Judiciary
SC grants 4 weeks time to Centre to frame guidelines to ensure pedestrians right to use footpath

SC gives Centre 4 weeks to frame guidelines ensuring pedestrians’ right to obstruction-free, accessible footpaths under Article 21.

04 August, 2025 11:41 AM

ADVERTISEMENT


Join Group

Signup for Our Newsletter

Get Exclusive access to members only content by email