Supreme Court seeks report on Delhi air quality after amicus says monitoring stations didn't work during Diwali

The Supreme Court on Monday called for a status report from the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) on the worsening air quality in Delhi.

The Bench of Chief Justice of India (CJI) BR Gavai and Justice K Vinod Chandran passed the order after it was informed that most of the air quality monitoring stations remained shut during Diwali in Delhi.

Senior Advocate Aparajita Singh, who is amicus curiae in the Delhi air pollution matter, requested a a report from the CAQM.

"There needs to be a report from CAQM on the current air pollution status. Out of 37 in Delhi, only 9 monitoring systems were functioning during Diwali," Sinha submitted.

The Court then called for a status report from the CAQM.

A day after the recent Diwali celebrations, the air quality in the national capital severely deteriorated.

According to media reports, the Delhi government deployed tankers to spray water around the air quality monitoring stations. This was being done to manipulate the Air Quality Index (AQI) readings, the reports alleged.

The Supreme Court had earlier allowed burning of green crackers during Diwali in the national capital and its surrounding districts. However, with the rising pollution levels, medical experts are urging people to leave Delhi for a few weeks.