Pollution Alert: Delhi School Sports Events to Be Rescheduled?

With Delhi’s air quality reaching critical levels, the Supreme Court has suggested that the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) direct schools across the NCR to postpone any sports or athletic gatherings scheduled for November and December. The court highlighted the critical health risks for children participating in outdoor activities during this period of extreme pollution. The amicus curiae’s vivid description of the situation as ‘gas chambers’ underscored the urgency. The Supreme Court acknowledged that the Delhi High Court was also considering a similar request. This judicial intervention is part of the ongoing efforts to manage the air pollution crisis in the region. Beyond sports, the court also mandated financial support for construction workers displaced by pollution-related bans and pushed for robust, regularly reviewed governmental measures to mitigate air pollution. The court has also stipulated that air pollution cases will be reviewed on a monthly basis.