Supreme Court Seeks Report on Defunct Air Quality Stations in Delhi

The Supreme Court on Monday expressed serious concern over several non-functional air quality monitoring stations in Delhi, questioning how pollution control measures can be effectively enforced without reliable data. The court directed the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) and the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) to file a detailed status report on the issue.

The matter came up during a hearing on Delhi’s worsening air pollution, when amicus curiae Aparajita Singh informed the bench that multiple monitoring stations were not operational. She argued that without accurate, real-time data, implementing the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) — which determines pollution-control measures based on Air Quality Index (AQI) levels — was nearly impossible. Singh cited reports showing that only nine of the 37 air monitoring stations in the capital were functioning properly during the Diwali period, making data-based interventions unreliable.

Responding to the submission, the bench headed by Justice B.R. Gavai directed CAQM and CPCB to submit reports detailing actions taken to restore the non-functional stations and to ensure better air quality management. The court also instructed pollution control authorities to collect sand and water samples from high-traffic areas for further analysis.

The Supreme Court further sought detailed data from October 14 to 25 to assess air quality trends in the National Capital Region (NCR) during the critical pollution phase.The development comes amid Delhi’s deteriorating air quality, with the overall AQI touching 316 on Monday — categorised as “very poor.” At least 28 of the city’s monitoring stations recorded AQI levels above 300, posing serious health risks for residents.

The court’s intervention highlights the urgent need for functional monitoring infrastructure to ensure timely enforcement of anti-pollution measures and safeguard public health in the capital.