The Calcutta High Court has directed the West Bengal Pollution Control Board (WBPCB) to prepare and place before the Court a comprehensive roadmap containing specific policies and time-bound measures for controlling air pollution and improving the Air Quality Index (AQI) across the State.

The direction was passed by a Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Ravindra Vithalrao Ghuge and Justice Om Narayan Rai on September 21, 2026, while hearing a Public Interest Litigation filed by Advocate Akash Sharma, along with the Court's own-motion proceedings concerning air quality. The two matters are registered as WPA(P) 1 of 2026 and WPA(P) 5 of 2026 (Court on its own motion.

The PIL raises concerns regarding recurring deterioration of air quality in Kolkata and Howrah, particularly during the winter months, and seeks a more coordinated and institutional mechanism for monitoring and responding to episodes of poor air quality. The petition has relied upon publicly available AQI data, reports and official material concerning air pollution and its sources.

During the hearing, the State informed the Court that the West Bengal Pollution Control Board needs to formulate specific policies to ensure that pollution is controlled throughout the State and that the AQI is improved. The State further indicated that if the Board formulates such policies and makes recommendations to the State Government, the Government would respond positively, observing that the proceedings were “not an adversarial litigation.

The WBPCB also informed the Court that, although a short report had already been tendered, it would prepare a more comprehensive report in the form of an affidavit. According to the Court's order, the proposed report is to contain the methods and policies for controlling air pollution, as well as a roadmap for initiating effective measures to curb pollution and improve air quality.

The High Court has directed the Pollution Control Board to work on the proposed policies in consultation with experts in the field and the concerned State authorities and to place before the Court a roadmap containing specific timelines for implementation, with the assistance of the State Government. The affidavit/report is required to be filed on or before 13 October 2026, with copies to be supplied to the petitioner and the State Government.

The proceedings are significant because the Court has not confined the issue merely to measurement of AQI or isolated episodes of pollution. The direction calls upon the statutory pollution-control authority to formulate specific policies, involve technical experts and concerned authorities, and place a time-bound implementation roadmap before the Court.

The Court has also directed the WBPCB and the State authorities to take appropriate measures *to control air pollution arising from firecrackers during the ensuing festivals,* specifically in the light of the Division Bench's earlier order dated October 11, 2022, in WPA(P) 292 of 2021. PIL AQI Order .pdf

The matter has been directed to be listed again on 19 November 2026, when the Court is expected to consider the report and roadmap to be placed by the WBPCB.

Click here to read order