The Supreme Court on Tuesday refused to entertain a fresh PIL filed by holistic health coach Luke Christopher Coutinho seeking its intervention to tackle a "persistent and systemic failure" in addressing the country's rising air pollution levels.

A Bench led by CJI BR Gavai, however, allowed Coutinho to withdraw his PIL and file an intervention application in a pending case filed by environmentalist MC Mehta on the issue scheduled to be heard on Wednesday.

In his PIL filed last month, Coutinho contended that air pollution levels in India have assumed proportions of a “public health emergency”, severely impacting citizens in both rural and urban areas.

It violated citizens' fundamental right to health – which is a part of right to life guaranteed under Article 21 of the Constitution; Cou

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