The Supreme Court underscored the direct connection between afforestation and air quality in the Delhi-NCR region, observing that expanding green cover is one of the most effective long-term measures to combat rising pollution levels. While reconstituting an expert panel to oversee compensatory afforestation in Delhi’s Ridge area, the Bench led by the Chief Justice of India flagged that such environmental measures “will have a bearing” on the capital’s Air Quality Index (AQI), reinforcing the Court’s active oversight of ecological governance in the region.
The matter arose when Senior Advocate Guru Krishna Kumar, appearing as amicus curiae, sought replacement of an expert committee member who had recently been appointed to the National Green Tribunal. The amicus proposed alternative names, following which the Court selected a retired Indian Forest Service officer to join the panel.
During the hearing, Kumar also highlighted earlier directions issued by a Bench led by Justice A.S. Oka (since retired) aimed at enhancing Delhi’s green cover. He requested that the present expert body also supervise compliance with those directions. The Bench agreed to list the related issue, bringing together afforestation monitoring and broader environmental compliance efforts.
Emphasising the larger environmental context, the Chief Justice noted the intrinsic link between tree cover and pollution control. “When we are fighting for the improvement of AQI, increasing green cover is one of the most viable, effective and long drawn solution,” the Court remarked. It further observed that the afforestation initiative was “of some relevance to Delhi’s AQI” and that “there is some interconnection. It will have a bearing.”
The Bench accordingly approved the reconstitution of the expert committee and indicated that oversight of earlier green cover enhancement directions would also be considered.
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