This archive report was first published on 5 November 2019.
Published on November 5, 2019, the Supreme Court's ruling came in response to petitions filed by activists, who highlighted the dire consequences of the practice on the health of Delhi's residents.
The court's judges warned that the entire administrative and police hierarchy, from top officials to local officers, would be held responsible if the practice continued.
Despite being illegal, many farmers claim they have no choice but to burn stubble due to financial constraints.
Each winter, the cooler air traps the stubble smoke, car fumes, factory emissions, and construction dust close to the ground, creating a toxic cocktail that causes respiratory problems and eye irritation.
On Sunday, pollution levels in Delhi shot up, with particulate matter measuring less than 2.5 microns reaching 1,000 micrograms per cubic meter of air, the worst in three years.
The World Health Organisation recommends a safe daily maximum of 25 micrograms per cubic meter.
Flights were diverted, and hospitals reported a surge in patients with respiratory complaints.
However, concentrations of the tiny particles fell on Tuesday, with the government monitoring agency SAFAR rating the air 'very poor', down from 'severe' a day earlier.
Delhi remained the most polluted city in the world on Tuesday, according to the AirVisual website, ahead of Kolkata in eastern India and Lahore in Pakistan.
Construction was banned temporarily in Delhi, and schools were closed until Wednesday, with city authorities handing out free anti-pollution masks to children.
Authorities also parked a van with an air purifier near the Taj Mahal in a bid to clean the atmosphere that has damaged the iconic marble mausoleum in recent years.
Delhi's chief minister, Arvind Kejriwal, hailed the first day of the odd-even traffic scheme as a success, with 1.5 million cars off the roads and traffic reduced.
However, climate policy expert Siddharth Singh called the traffic restrictions 'ineffective', stating that motorised private transport has a small share in the overall pollution.
