Delhi Pollution: Supreme Court Criticizes Govt Over Lax Entry Checks, Orders Monitoring by Lawyers
The Supreme Court expressed dissatisfaction with the Delhi government's response to tackling the city's severe pollution crisis. Highlighting the lack of effective checks at 113 entry points into Delhi, the court ordered the deployment of police officers and paralegal volunteers for monitoring. Additionally, young lawyers will oversee entry points, prepare reports, and monitor CCTV footage. The court will review the situation in its next hearing.
Delhi Pollution: The Supreme Court on Friday expressed dissatisfaction with the Delhi government's responses regarding pollution control measures. During the hearing, senior advocate Gopal Shankaranarayanan informed the court, citing media reports, that trucks were entering Delhi unchecked due to bribery. The court suggested that the central government deploy police officers at all 113 entry points and recommended appointing paralegal volunteers through the Delhi Legal Services Authority for monitoring.
The Delhi government asserted that its transport officials were intercepting trucks. The court noted, however, that records did not clarify the number of operating checkposts. Citing the Stage 4 measures under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP), the court emphasized that all non-essential trucks should be stopped. It announced the appointment of young lawyers to monitor entry points and submit reports, along with surveillance through footage available on CCTV cameras.
The bench noted that CCTV cameras existed at only 13 entry points, leaving the rest of the 100 unchecked. The bench told Delhi Police and Delhi government to immediately install checkposts on all 113 locations. The footage from these 13 cameras is to be shared with the court-appointed amicus curiae.
A team of 13 lawyers has been appointed as court commissioners to oversee the entry points. They will be coordinated by Advocate Aditya Prasad, who will ensure necessary security and logistical support. The court expects reports from all commissioners before the next hearing scheduled for Monday.
He also told me that the school closures are also a problem from the point of view of parents-there are people actually staying home to look after the kids. Of course, the court has taken note of those difficulties but decided that Stage 4 restrictions remain in place and will be considered next week. It refused, at the hearing, to reduce GRAP measures as being in proportion to improving air quality.