India, Oct. 29 -- New Delhi

Supreme Court justice Vikram Nath, in a light-hearted exchange with a senior counsel on Wednesday, remarked that "the air in Delhi will be very bad post-Diwali", in response to the advocate's request to adjourn a hearing in an unrelated matter to November 17.

During a virtual hearing, senior advocate Indira Jaising requested the apex court to list the matter on November 17, prompting the conversation to turn to the Capital's pollution levels around Diwali.

"Post Diwali, the air in Delhi will be very bad... You come before Diwali, the environment would be cleaner. After Diwali, it will be worse," justice Nath said. He offered November 3 as an alternative date.

Jaising responded that pollution levels would be...