Barely two weeks after the Supreme Court urged lawyers to appear virtually for hearings owing to the "very serious" pollution in Delhi, Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant on Wednesday said he is facing breathing problems after going for his regular walk.
As the national capital remained in the 'very poor' category for the 12th consecutive day, CJI Surya Kant said that if the Bar Association agrees to move Supreme Court hearings to virtual mode, the court may consider creating a uniform rule.
Senior advocate Rakesh Dwivedi has already suggested that lawyers over 60 years of age should be allowed to appear through virtual conferencing instead of coming to court in person.
On Tuesday, the courtroom witnessed a light moment when senior advocate Gopal Sankaranarayanan said he could barely speak due to a sore throat. In response, CJI Surya Kant quipped, "In Delhi, that’s a problem for everyone currently."
Earlier, the Supreme Court bench of Justices PS Narasimha and Atul S Chandurkar warned of permanent damage to health, saying,"Situation is very very serious! Why are you all appearing here? We have a virtual hearing facility. Please avail it. This pollution will cause permanent damage."
Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, who was also present in the court, pointed out that many lawyers were wearing masks, to which Justice Narasimha replied, "Even masks are not enough. They will not suffice. We will discuss it with the Chief Justice as well."
Delhi’s air quality stayed in the very poor category on Tuesday, with an overall Air Quality Index (AQI) of 353, marking the 12th straight day of such conditions. The capital also reported its lowest maximum temperature of the season. The Air Quality Early Warning System for Delhi predicts that air quality will remain very poor from November 26 to 28, with forecasts for the following six days suggesting AQI values will fluctuate between very poor and severe.
The 24-hour average AQI was 352 on Tuesday, a slight improvement from 382 on Monday, but still in the very poor range. CPCB data shows average AQI readings of 391 on Sunday, 370 on Saturday, 374 on Friday, 391 on Thursday, and 392 on Wednesday, highlighting a consistent pattern of unhealthy air quality.
According to the CPCB’s Sameer app, only Rohini among 38 operational stations recorded air quality in the severe category on Tuesday with an AQI of 401. On Monday, 15 stations had severe air quality, indicating a reduction in the most hazardous readings.
Data from the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology’s Decision Support System indicated vehicular emissions contributed 19.6% to Delhi’s air pollution on Tuesday, the highest among all sources. Stubble burning accounted for 1.5%. For Wednesday, projections estimate vehicles will account for 21.1% and stubble burning will remain at 1.5%.
Authorities continue to monitor the situation, and residents are advised to take precautions, especially when AQI reaches severe levels, as air quality is expected to remain challenging in the coming days.
