The Bench questioned why Delhi's pollution persists despite years of curbs and whether authorities have explored scientific alternatives.

The Supreme Court’s temporary, tightly controlled permission for certified green crackers is an experiment.

If the government doesn't know how long PILs take, M.C. Mehta's 39-year wait is the answer it never bothered to record.

The Bench refused to grant long adjournments and said it would hear the matter on a continuous basis

The Bench was informed about school closures, stipends for construction workers and pollution contributed due to toll booths.

Court pushes authorities to show why Delhi’s pollution remains high despite repeated action plans

Vacancies in pollution control boards and poor enforcement come under scrutiny as Court demands accountability from NCR states

Amicus says burning is undercounted; Union points to machinery subsidies; Court seeks durable plan beyond seasonal bans

The Court directed the authorities to monitor the AQI, water sampling and police patrolling to prevent any violations

NCR states argued that Diwali firecrackers are not the only contributor to pollution, alongside stubble burning and temperature inversion

The Bench recommended the Union Government to consider imposing fines or imprisonment under the Indian penal laws

The Court warned that without expertise and staff NCR’s pollution boards remain toothless, regardless of the laws they’re bound by