SC Orders Probe Against Delhi Officials For Air Pollution

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday censured the AAP government and the Delhi police for a "serious lapse" on their part in the strict implementation of GRAP-IV measures and directed the Commission for Air Quality Management to take action against the erring officials.

A bench of Justices Abhay S Oka and Augustine George Masih said the authorities made no efforts to implement GRAP-IV measures.

"It is apparent that the authorities mentioned in GRAP-IV clauses 1, 2 and 3 have made no earnest efforts to implement action under clauses 1 to 3. Some police teams were deputed at a few entry points that also without any specific instructions," it said.

Calling for action against the erring officials, the bench said, "(Court) commissioners have noted that police were only deployed as on November 23 and thus a serious lapse on part of authorities. We, therefore, direct commission to immediately initiate action under Section 14 of CAQM Act 2021." Section 14 of the CAQM in National Capital Region and Adjoining Areas Act, 2021 deals with the punishment for non-compliance of its provisions. Refusing to relax GRAP-IV curbs, the top court said unless the court was satisfied of there being a "consistent downward trend of AQI", it couldn't permit the commission to go down to Stage 3 or 2 of the GRAP. The bench earlier asked Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati, appearing for the Centre, and Senior advocate Shadan Farasat for Delhi government, if there was any written order directing police to station permanently at the checkpoints.