Only 9 of 37 Air Quality Stations Worked During Diwali: Supreme Court Orders CAQM Report

The Supreme Court on Monday asked the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) to submit a status report on the alarming air pollution levels in Delhi following Diwali celebrations.

A Bench led by Chief Justice of India (CJI) BR Gavai and Justice K Vinod Chandran passed the direction after being informed that most air quality monitoring stations in the city were not operational during the festival.

Senior Advocate Aparajita Singh, who serves as amicus curiae in the Delhi air pollution case, highlighted that only 9 out of 37 monitoring systems were functioning during Diwali. She urged the Court to seek an immediate report from the CAQM on the city’s current air quality situation.

Following her submission, the Bench directed the CAQM to file a status report at the earliest.

Reports suggest that after Diwali, Delhi’s air quality dipped to hazardous levels, with thick smog blanketing the city. Media outlets also alleged that the Delhi government had deployed water tankers near air monitoring stations to artificially alter Air Quality Index (AQI) readings.

Earlier, the Supreme Court had permitted the limited use of green crackers during Diwali in Delhi and nearby areas. However, the worsening pollution levels have now prompted health experts to advise residents—especially children, the elderly, and those with respiratory issues—to temporarily move out of the city until the air quality improves.