Air Pollution| Supreme Court Directs Stakeholders Recommended By CAQM To Submit Action Plan To Give Effect To Long-Term Measures

The Supreme Court, today, directed all the stakeholders recommended by the Commission for Air Quality Management (caqm) to submit an action plan to give effect to long term measures on issues related to air pollution.

As ordered by the Court on January 6, 2026, the CAQM has submitted a detailed report suggesting long-term measures to combat the issue of Delhi Air Pollution.

The bench of Chief Justice Surya Kant, Justice Joymalya Bagchi and Justice Vipul M Pancholi ordered, "CAQM has filed a comprehensive report...the Commission has recommended long-term measures comprising the following (list annexed from the report)...the Commission has also identified the concerned agencies who are competent to give effect to these long-term measures. While in addition to these long-term measures, there might be some additonal long term measures required to be adopted in addition to those recommended above by CAQM. There can be no doubt that these long-term measures are required to be given effect to...We therefore call upon all the stakeholders which have been mentioned above...to submit their respective action taken plan to give effect to these measures....Let the needful in this regard be done within a period of four weeks..."

Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati appeared for the CAQM, and Senior Advocate Aparajita Singh appeared as Amicus Curiae.

The Court further added, "CAQM also considered the persistent air quality scenario and, to decongest entry to Delhi, has made the following recommendations...We direct concerned agencies, particularly the Municipal Corporation of Delhi, to submit immediately as to why these measures should not be implemented without delay. We don't need objections, but all we need is implementation by MCD and by agencies of neighbouring states."

ASG Aishwarya Bhati presented a comprehensive roadmap developed by an expert committee. The focus of the proceedings shifted from the temporary, seasonal restrictions often seen under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) to a more permanent, structural overhaul of Delhi-NCR’s infrastructure.

ASG Bhati confirmed that the government has already identified the necessary agencies and is prepared to secure the funds required for these transitions.

The ASG highlighted plans to phase out older, polluting vehicles more aggressively and to strengthen the Pollution Under Control (PUC) system to ensure it is more than just a procedural formality.

Furthermore, she said that the government aims to overhaul the Electric Vehicle (EV) policy, proposing significantly higher financial incentives to encourage owners to scrap their ageing internal combustion engine vehicles in favour of zero-emission alternatives.

Accordingly, the matter is now listed for further hearing.

Background

On the last date of hearing, the Court issued directions to the CAQM, emphasizing its statutory obligation to move beyond temporary fixes and establish a definitive, expert-backed understanding of the worsening air quality in Delhi-NCR. It also remarked that CAQM must not take long adjournments and must find solutions for the identification of the causes of the worsening AQI.

Previously, the Court had refused to interfere with the direction for the closure of schools. The Bench had also modified its last order dated August 12, 2025 and ordered that no adverse steps be taken against the owners of BS-IV or higher category vehicles.

On December 3, 2025, the Supreme Court had agreed to hear a case concerning the deteriorating air quality in the Delhi–National Capital Region, saying the issue needed to be monitored on a regular basis.

On November 19, the court asked the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) to consider directing schools in Delhi-NCR to postpone open-air sports events scheduled for November–December to “safer months” due to toxic air levels.

It had declined to impose year-round restrictions under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP), an emergency framework that restricts polluting activities in severe conditions, and instead emphasised the need for long-term, sustainable solutions.

The Court has previously refused to entertain a fresh PIL by a wellness expert seeking urgent judicial intervention to tackle a "persistent and systemic failure" in addressing the country's rising air pollution levels. The Apex Court, however, allowed holistic health coach Luke Christopher Coutinho to withdraw the PIL and file an intervention plea in a pending case filed by environmentalist M C Mehta on pollution.

Cause Title: MC Mehta v. Union of India [WP (C) 13029/1985]