SC Moved Over ‘Public Health Emergency’ Caused by Rising Air Pollution

November 6, 2025

New Delhi: A public interest litigation (PIL) has been filed before the Supreme Court seeking immediate judicial intervention in what it describes as a “nationwide public health emergency” caused by escalating air pollution across India.

The petition, filed by wellness advocate and Fit India Movement champion Luke Christopher Countinho, argued that despite a dense statutory framework and multiple policy initiatives, the country’s air quality remains “consistently poor, dangerous, and violative of the fundamental right to life.”

“The situation has reached a point where over 1.4 billion citizens are compelled to inhale toxic air every single day — a direct infringement of Article 21,” the plea stated.

Plea Highlights Severe Air Quality Levels

The writ petition pointed out that annual averages of PM2.5 and PM10 in cities such as Delhi, Mumbai, Lucknow, Kolkata, Chennai, and Patna exceed the permissible limits set under the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS), notified by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.

It highlighted that PM2.5 levels of around 105 microgrammes per cubic metre were recorded — nearly 20 times higher than the WHO’s recommended safe limit of 5 microgrammes per cubic metre.

The plea alleged that this “persistent and systemic failure” has occurred despite laws like the Air Act, the Environment Protection Act, and the National Clean Air Programme (2019), adding that monitoring systems remain “inadequate” and “largely symbolic.”

‘Clean Air Is the Foundation of Health’

The petitioner contended that even citizens who follow wellness practices through yoga, nutrition, and lifestyle modifications are deprived of the very foundation of health — clean air.

This, it said, undermines national health initiatives and exposes millions to severe respiratory, cardiovascular, and neurological risks.

“Air pollution is no longer merely an environmental issue — it has become a major industrial and policy challenge, demanding systemic intervention,” the petition added.

Petition Urges Court to Mandate Action

The PIL urged the Supreme Court to issue time-bound directions for a meaningful reduction in ambient air pollution, strengthen monitoring infrastructure in both urban and rural areas, and ensure effective enforcement of the Air Act and other environmental laws.

It also sought enhanced accountability of government agencies to address what it termed as a “grave and ongoing violation of the right to life.”