Delhi was choked by a thick blanket of smog on Monday, December 15, 2025, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) hitting a dangerous 498. This level is classified as 'severe' on the pollution scale. Jahangirpuri recorded the worst air quality among 40 monitoring stations. The Delhi High Court responded by advising lawyers and parties-in-person to use the hybrid mode and appear through video conferencing for their court matters, if possible. A circular from the registrar general said, “if convenient, members of the bar/parties-in-person may avail hybrid mode of appearance through video conferencing facility in their matters listed before the hon’ble courts.” This move follows a similar advice from Chief Justice of India Surya Kant for the Supreme Court. Currently, the High Court runs a hybrid system combining physical and virtual hearings. On Monday, 38 stations recorded 'severe' air quality while two showed 'very poor' levels. The pollution worsened due to weak winds and low temperatures, trapping pollutants near the ground. The AQI scale marks 401 to 500 as 'severe'. According to the Central Pollution Control Board, levels above 300 are hazardous. The previous day also saw grim pollution with an AQI of 461, marking one of the worst December air quality days recorded. Health experts warn that prolonged breathing of such polluted air can cause serious health issues. The High Court and Supreme Court's call for video appearance aims to protect public health while ensuring court work continues amid Delhi's hazardous air conditions.