The seasonal surge in pollution levels in Delhi is impacting the health routine of Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud. During an informal discussion with reporters at the Supreme Court on Thursday, he shared that he has ceased his morning walks due to the escalating air pollution.

"I have stopped going for morning walks from today. I usually go for a walk around 4 am to 4.15 am," he said.

The Chief Justice also mentioned that doctor recommended him to avoid going outside in the mornings, emphasizing that it’s safer for him to stay indoors to reduce the risk of respiratory illnesses.

Delhi's air quality has remained "very poor" for most of the week, raising alarms about the heightened risk of respiratory diseases. On Wednesday, the city recorded the worst air quality in the nation, even as the Commission for Air Quality Management activated stage two of the anti-pollution plan, GRAP.

The Supreme Court has expressed strong criticism towards the Centre and the governments of Punjab and Haryana for their failure to implement essential anti-pollution measures.

A bench comprising Justice Abhay S. Oka, Justice A. Amanullah, and Justice A.G. Masih dismissed the states' attempts to combat stubble burning as merely "an eyewash."

The toxic smoke from these states, frequently visible in satellite images, contributes to the oppressive smog that envelops the national capital each winter. Last month, the Supreme Court also reprimanded Delhi's air quality panel, highlighting its inability to effectively address pollution in the National Capital Region.