PIL filed in Supreme Court seeks to declare air pollution a “national public health emergency”
Court
A Public Interest Litigation has been filed in the Supreme Court urging the declaration of air pollution as a health emergency in India, demanding stricter rules, monitoring and timely action.
New Delhi | November 07, 2025:A petition seeking urgent judicial intervention to address India’s air pollution crisis has been filed before the Supreme Court, asking that air pollution be declared a national public health emergency.
Filed on October 24 by wellness coach Luke Christopher Countinho, the plea argues that rising levels of ambient air pollution threaten citizens’ right to life and health under Article 21 of the Indian Constitution.
The petition points out that in many major cities including Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, Bengaluru, Lucknow and others — the annual averages of PM₂.₅ and PM₁₀ pollution levels exceed the permissible limits under India’s National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS).
It also claims that while the government has frameworks such as the Air Act, Environment Protection Act, and the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP), enforcement remains weak. Monitoring infrastructure is described as inadequate especially in rural areas and compliance is inconsistent.
Among its demands, the plea seeks the following:
- A judicial declaration of air pollution as a National Public Health Emergency.
- A time-bound national action plan with measurable targets and enforceable penalties.
- Strengthened monitoring systems with wider coverage in both urban and rural India.
- Curbing sources of pollution such as crop-residue burning, phasing out high-emission vehicles, and other long-term structural reforms.
The petition has drawn attention to alarming health risks — including irreversible lung damage to children — and calls on the Court to issue time-bound orders that push the Union Government, State Governments and pollution control authorities into concrete action.
Follow us On Our Social media Handles :
Instagram
Youtube
Facebook
Twitter
Also Read- Pune
