Delhi Schools: SC Urges Postponement of Sports Due to Pollution

In response to Delhi’s severe air pollution crisis, the Supreme Court has advised the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) to postpone all sports and athletic activities scheduled in Delhi-NCR schools during November and December. The court emphasized the extreme vulnerability of children to hazardous air quality, likening the situation to exposing them to ‘gas chambers’. This recommendation comes as many schools planned their annual sports meets despite the alarming Air Quality Index (AQI) readings. The Supreme Court noted that a similar plea was before the Delhi High Court and that the High Court could issue its own directives. The court, monitoring the air pollution situation in the National Capital Region, also mandated monthly reviews of air pollution matters. Furthermore, the court directed that construction workers idled by anti-pollution measures be provided with a subsistence allowance and urged governments to regularly review and implement preventive measures to combat air pollution.