The Supreme Court of India has reprimanded the National Capital Region (NCR) states, including Delhi, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and Rajasthan, for failing to pay compensation to construction workers after air pollution led to a halt in construction activities. The court emphasized that action only begins when it summons top officers and demanded proof of payments made to the workers. Despite its orders, none of the states had shown evidence of compensation.

The court has now asked the Chief Secretaries of these states to appear via video conference. Furthermore, the court refused to relax curbs under Stage 4 of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) despite improving air quality, insisting on a clear downward trend in air pollution before easing restrictions.

The bench also noted the lack of coordination among various authorities and highlighted safety concerns for court commissioners who are facing intimidation while monitoring air quality measures. The Delhi Police was directed to provide protection to court commissioners, underscoring the risks involved in the enforcement of air pollution measures.