Overview
- Rejecting a two-month adjournment sought on toll-plaza decisions, the court set an accelerated schedule and said it will monitor the case continuously.
- CAQM was directed to shortlist domain experts, convene a meeting within two weeks, and publish a report identifying the principal contributors to Delhi-NCR pollution.
- The bench highlighted wide discrepancies in sectoral estimates—including transport’s share ranging from about 12% to 41%—to underscore the need for a common evidence base.
- The court warned against selective blame on farmers or public transport, recalling clear skies during high stubble burning in the COVID period and stressing practical commuting needs.
- Delhi’s average AQI was 293 with several ‘very poor’ stations, as the court pressed for phased long-term measures and an independent reconsideration of border toll plazas.