On January 19, 2026, the Calcutta High Court took suo motu notice of the worsening air pollution in Kolkata and nearby areas like Howrah. The Chief Justice issued notices to the West Bengal government and demanded a reply by February 28. This case will be heard alongside a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by Advocate Akash Sharma. Sharma's PIL states that despite notifying the West Bengal Government and Pollution Control Board, no strong action was taken. He said residents face "very poor", "severe", and "hazardous" air quality levels, violating their right to life under Article 21 of India’s Constitution. The PIL also points out that the problem is recurring, with different departments shifting responsibility and no coordinated solution. Experts warn the pollution is not just from increased emissions but from pollutants trapped closer to the ground. Professor Abhijit Chatterjee from Bose Institute explained that extreme cold has lowered the atmospheric boundary layer, trapping pollutants near the surface. He added that burning waste like electrical and rubber materials at night releases harmful compounds that create haze in the morning. Professor Chatterjee urges strict action against waste burning and calls for public awareness. An analysis by Respirer Living Sciences showed that on 82 days in 2025, Kolkata’s poor air quality was caused mainly by toxic gases like nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) and ozone (O₃), not just particulate matter like PM2.5. Founder Ronak Sutaria warned that focusing only on particulate matter could miss key pollution risks. The study noted that industrial areas such as Dunlop, Ultadanga, Moulali, Rabindra Sarobar, and Howrah Bridge corridors had much higher pollution from toxic gases. The court will hear the case after the government’s response deadline.