Delhi Air Pollution Forces Supreme Court to Order Lawyers to Work From Home
New Delhi, India – Delhi is grappling with dangerously high levels of air pollution, prompting the Supreme Court to order lawyers to work from home and triggering the third phase of restrictions under the city’s Graded Response Action Plan. The unprecedented move comes as the city’s air quality index (AQI) remains in the “severe” category, posing notable health risks to residents.
The court’s decision,announced Friday,aims to protect legal professionals from the harmful effects of the toxic air. A separate bench led by Chief Justice Bhushan R Gavai is actively monitoring pollution control efforts, including addressing the issue of stubble burning in neighboring states. The court has requested reports from the governments of Punjab and Haryana detailing their actions to curb crop-fire incidents, identified through satellite data as a major contributor to the pollution.
The current crisis has activated the third phase of Delhi’s Graded Response Action plan, enacting bans on construction work, restrictions on older vehicles, and a shift to online classes for younger students.
Hundreds of citizens, including parents and environmental activists, protested at india Gate last weekend, urging authorities to take decisive action. Demonstrators wore masks and carried signs, some reading: “I miss breathing.”
Delhi’s recurring winter air pollution stems from a combination of vehicle exhaust, industrial emissions, crop-burning smoke, and weather conditions that trap pollutants near the ground. PM2.5 concentrations frequently exceed World Health Organization guidelines by more than 20 times, making Delhi one of the world’s most polluted capitals.
A study published in The Lancet medical journal found that exposure to pollution has contributed to millions of deaths across India over the past decade.
The Supreme Court is scheduled to review the situation again on Monday.
