Implement orders of panel on air quality to curb pollution, Supreme Court tells Centre, NCR states

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, December 3

The Supreme Court on Friday directed the Centre and the states in NCR to implement the orders of the panel on air quality management to curb air pollution while ruing that some sections of the media have "portrayed" it as a "villain" which wants to close down schools here.

A special bench headed by Chief Justice NV Ramana also took note of the measures taken by the Commission for Air Quality Management in National Capital Region and Adjoining Areas on Thursday and asked the Centre, Delhi and states in the National Capital Region (NCR) to follow the directions.

In an affidavit, the commission told the bench, also comprising Justices DY Chandrachud and Surya Kant, that a five-member enforcement task force had been set up to contain air pollution in Delhi and NCR. Forty such squads would monitor the implementation of measures suggested by it to deal with pollution, the panel said.

Seventeen such flying squads have been constituted to ensure the implementation of various measures mandated by the court and the panel. The number would be raised to 40 within 24 hours, the affidavit said. Ban on entry of trucks, excluding those carrying essential goods and those running on cleaner fuel, would continue, it said.

Taking a note of the measures, the bench ordered, "We have perused affidavit by the Centre and the Delhi government. We have taken into consideration the directions proposed. We direct the Centre and the government of National Capital Territory to implement the orders of December 2 and we keep the matter pending and will hear it on next Friday.”

At the outset, the bench referred to certain news reports and said a message "intentionally or unintentionally" has been sent that the court is the "villain" and it is ordering the closure of schools.

"One thing which we observed is whether intentional or unintentional and some sections of media portrays us that we are the villains who want to close down the schools. You (Delhi government) on your own opened the schools. But, see the newspapers..," the chief justice said.

Senior advocate AM Singhvi, appearing for the Delhi government, referred to a news report and said that one English newspaper reported that the apex court threatened to take over the administration.

"You (Delhi government) can condemn all of this but where do we go? Where did we say that we will take up an administrative role...We cannot interfere with the freedom of speech and expression and a political party can hold a press conference but we cannot do so," the bench said. With PTI

Join Whatsapp Channel of The Tribune for latest updates.