In the Supreme Court on Wednesday, a public interest litigation (PIL) drew urgent attention to the worsening air quality across India, describing the situation as nothing short of a national health crisis. The atmosphere inside the courtroom was serious, with the bench noting that the matter “cannot be brushed aside anymore,” especially when children's health is at stake.
Background
The petition has been filed by wellness advocate Luke Christopher Countinho, who is associated with the Fit India Movement. His plea asserts that despite existing pollution control policies, the actual air quality in multiple cities and even rural belts has deteriorated to hazardous levels.
The petition cites studies showing 2.2 million schoolchildren in Delhi alone have suffered irreversible lung damage. These figures, the petitioner said, show an undeniable failure in enforcement and planning. The plea also points to the gap between permissible air quality limits and real-world pollution readings. For instance, the acceptable annual limit for PM2.5 (a dangerous fine particle pollutant) is 40 μg/m³ under Indian standards, but Delhi reportedly averages over 100 μg/m³.
Court’s Observations
During the hearing, the bench expressed concern over the health consequences mentioned in the petition. One of the judges remarked,
“If the air itself is poisonous, what meaning do other rights under the Constitution hold?”
The petitioner argued that while the government has initiated programs such as the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP), progress has been inconsistent. Only 25 out of 130 cities monitored under NCAP have shown meaningful improvement. Several cities have actually recorded worse pollution levels since the baseline year of 2017.
The petitioner also highlighted that rural pollution has gone largely unmeasured, calling it a “data blind spot” leading to policies focused almost entirely on urban areas.
According to the plea, emissions from vehicles, industrial zones, burning of agricultural residue, and construction dust continue to go unchecked. The bench appeared particularly troubled by the mention that even the upgraded Bharat Stage VI vehicles reportedly emit pollutants far beyond permissible limits in real testing conditions, yet enforcement remains minimal.
Decision
After hearing the submissions, the Supreme Court agreed to examine the matter and sought responses from the Union Government and relevant environmental authorities. The bench stated that addressing pollution "cannot wait indefinitely" and indicated that the case will be given priority.
The matter has now been posted for the next hearing, where the Court will review the responses and consider whether stronger nationwide actions need to be mandated.
Case Title: Luke Christopher Countinho v. Union of India & Others
Court: Supreme Court of India
Case Type: Public Interest Litigation (PIL)
Relief Sought: Declaration of National Public Health Emergency due to rising air pollution