JUDGMENT : The Additional Director, Ministry of Environment and forests, Government of India, Dr. Shyam Lal, had filed a detailed affidavit dated 7.2.1994 along with two annexures indicating the schedule of supply of unleaded petrol to metropolitan cities of the country and stated that the 1995 - Policy Note focusing on the air pollution in metropolitan cities was prepared which covered various issues of control and abatement of pollution in metropolitan cities including that from automobiles. It was also stated that the said note was approved by the Committee of Secretaries and various measures were identified to be taken by different ministries. The details of those measures were given in Annexure - II to the affidavit. In Annexure - I appended to the affidavit, the possibility of moving unleaded petrol from BRPL to Delhi so that about 10 per cent of the demand of unleaded petrol in Delhi could be met was indicated. There was also a note to the effect that for the balance 90 per cent of Delhi supplies the level of lead content could be brought down to 0.15 g/l by 30th April, 1994 instead of the earlier commitment of December 1994. We enquired of the learned counsel for the Union of India regarding the progress made in this behalf since more than three months from April 1994 had clapsed. The learned counsel for the Union of India, Shri Goswami, was unable to enlighten us on the progress made in this behalf. 2. It is most unfortunate that the concerned officers have not thought it necessary to instruct the counsel about the progress of the matters as per the time schedule, they themselves had evolved. In fact, this Court accepted the statements made in the affidavit at their face value and did not intervene with the time schedule so that the concerned ministry is able to achieve the targets as per the time schedule worked out by them. This Court had hoped that a solemn statement made before this Court by a high ranking officer of the level of Additional director of Ministry of Environment in a sworn affidavit will be strictly and scrupulously adhered to. Mr. Goswami, the learned Standing Counsel for the Union of India, and Mr. This Court had hoped that a solemn statement made before this Court by a high ranking officer of the level of Additional director of Ministry of Environment in a sworn affidavit will be strictly and scrupulously adhered to. Mr. Goswami, the learned Standing Counsel for the Union of India, and Mr. Reddy, learned A.S.G., who appeared on the last occasion and whom we called to Court today, state that a week's time may be given to enable this Court to place on record the progress made as per the affidavit of Dr. Shyam Lal. Unfortunately, no responsible officer from the concerned ministry has bothered to attend the Court to inform the learned counsel of the progress. It is a sad commentary that such a casual approach is being shown to a matter of deep concern to this Court as well as the citizens of the country. The extent of pollution in Delhi and its consequences are well-known to every one. We do hope that on the next occasion senior officers of the Department of Environment will be before this Court to inform this Court of the action taken on the time schedule indicated in the annexures to the affidavit of Dr. Shyam Lal and we will not be compelled to take action for non-compliance of the solemn assurances given to this Court. 3. Let the matters come up on 19.8.1994.