'What magic wand can we exercise?': SC says Delhi-NCR pollution needs continuous monitoring, to take up plea on December 3

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Thursday acknowledged the severe air pollution in New Delhi and said that a long-term solution by domain experts was required to address the issue.

"What magic wand can a judicial forum exercise? I know this is hazardous for Delhi-National Capital Region(NCR)," Chief Justice of India Surya Kant presiding over a bench also comprising Justice Joymalya Bagchi said.

The court agreed to hear on December 3, 2025, a plea in connection with the deteriorating air quality. 

Senior advocate Aparajita Singh, who is assisting the bench as an amicus curiae in the air pollution matter, submitted that there is an "alarming situation in Delhi-NCR". She claimed that it is a health emergency.

The bench said only domain experts can give the solution, and it should be a long-term solution. "The issue is what is the solution. We need to identify reasons and the solutions can be given by the domain experts only. We hope and expect that long-term solutions are found," the bench said.

"Tell me what can we direct? We issue some directions and get to breathe clean air immediately. Then, we have to see what the solutions can be in each region. Let us see what the government has constituted in terms of committee," the bench added.

The court said that the pollution matter is also listed in a ceremonial way during the Diwali season and emphasised on having regular monitoring.

The court assured that it will take it up on a continuous basis.

The CJI on Wednesday explored the possibility of conducting Supreme Court hearings in virtual mode due to severe air pollution, saying he felt unwell when he went for an hour-long walk.

On November 19, the court asked the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) to consider directing schools in Delhi-NCR to postpone open-air sports events scheduled for November–December 2025 to "safer months" due to toxic air levels.

The court had earlier refused to impose year-round restrictions under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP), an emergency framework that restricts polluting activities in severe conditions, and instead emphasised the need for long-term, sustainable solutions.

The national capital is reeling under poor air quality for the last few weeks, and the air quality was repeatedly recorded in the “very poor” category.