Supreme Court names vehicular emissions as major contributor to air pollution in Delhi-NCR

Commuters wade through thick smog in New Delhi on November 6, 2026. Photo credit: ANI

The Supreme Court on Friday (November 6, 2026) termed vehicular emissions as a major contributor to air pollution in Delhi-NCR and said immediate, medium and long-term measures are needed to curb the rising air quality index.

Hearing a suo motu case examining the regulatory framework governing air pollution, a Bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V. Mohan also expressed concern over the bumper-to-bumper operation in Delhi-NCR.

“We keep talking and sometimes we make statements and suggestions, but the point is that the AQI is already touching 400,” the CJI said.

The bench highlighted the large number of vehicles plying on roads connecting Delhi with neighboring areas, including Ghaziabad, Greater Noida, Gurugram and Faridabad.

“Look at the roads in Delhi and the roads connecting Delhi to NCR. Look at any road and the kind of vehicles that move on it. That is the main problem,” the CJI said.

The bench said that poor people are the real sufferers as well as on the roads and moreover the festival time is the only time when they earn their livelihood.

On stubble burning, the Bench stressed the need to educate farmers on the use of machinery instead of resorting to farm fires.

Asked to close schools or run them in hybrid mode for students of all age groups if the air quality index (AQI) rises above a certain mark, the court said it will follow the opinion of experts.

Addressing the Center and other bodies, Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati mentioned the regulatory framework covering five major sectors: industrial emissions, vehicular pollution, construction and demolition dust, road dust and stubble burning.

She told the Bench that several measures have been put in place, including restrictions on the entry of certain vehicles, pollution under control (PUC) Geo-Indication Certificates and measures against visibly polluting vehicles through complaints received on apps and social media.

Ms Bhati told the Bench that stubble burning accounted for 14% of Delhi’s pollution on Thursday (November 5, 2026).

The bench said it will pass several orders and take up the case on November 16 after the court reopens after the Diwali vacation.

A thick layer of smog hung over the capital on Friday (November 6, 2026) as air quality worsened sharply and approached the “severe” category, with the overall AQI reading settling at 391.

Of the 59 monitoring stations across the city, 30 recorded “severe” air quality at 9am, while the rest were in the “very poor” category.

Rohini recorded the worst AQI at 475, followed by IIT Delhi at 472, official data showed.

Published – November 6, 2026 1:53 PM IST