Delhi Air Pollution | Won't Permit GRAP-IV Relaxation Without Seeing Consistent Downward AQI Trend : Supreme Court

The Supreme Court on Monday (December 2) refused to relax the restrictions under the Graded Action Response Plan (GRAP) Stage-IV imposed in Delhi to tackle air pollution.

The Court said that it would take a call on the relaxations proposed by the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) on Thursday (December 5) after analysing the downward trend of the Air Quality Index (AQI).

A bench comprising Justice Abhay S Oka and Justice Augustine George Masih was hearing the MC Mehta case relating to the air quality in the National Capital Region.

When Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati, for the CAQM, sought relaxations, Justice Oka said, "The AQI is not stable. It has increased. We will look at your suggestions but today we will not permit relaxation."

Highlighting that the GRAP-IV measures are very "disruptive", ASG Bhati said that the CAQM has proposed suggestions for relaxations and requested the bench to consider them.

When the bench sought the opinion of Senior Advocate Aparajita Singh, the Amicus Curiae in the case, she said that she would not have opposed the relaxations had the emergency measures been implemented well in advance.

Justice Oka said that the relaxations would not be permitted unless the Court is satisfied that there is a consistent downward trend with respect to the AQI figures.

"We will apply our mind to these suggestions but we want to ensure that there is a downward trend before we permit relaxations. Ultimately someday we will have to leave it to you. But at least we must be satisfied that there is some consistent downward trend," Justice Oka said.

"On Thursday(December 5), we will examine the AQI levels and find out whether there is any downward Trend. Some of the relaxations are suggested by Commission in the report dated 2nd December 2024. We will hear the parties on those measures and pass appropriate orders," the bench recorded in the order.

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Live updates from today's hearing can be read here.