Delhi pollution crisis: Top court suggests pausing sports meets

It also sought subsistence payment for affected workers

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As Delhi-NCR (National Capital Region) chokes under “severe” air quality amid a dense blanket of smog, the Supreme Court yesterday asked the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) to consider directing schools to postpone sports and games scheduled for November—December to safer months, once air quality improves.

A bench of Chief Justice of India (CJI) B.R. Gavai and Justice K. Vinod Chandran passed the direction after senior advocate Aparajita Singh, the amicus curiae assisting the top court, flagged that several schools in the national capital and adjoining areas were preparing to conduct sports meets at a time when the Air Quality Index (AQI) had plunged to dangerous levels.

“Children are most vulnerable. Holding sports now is like putting them in gas chambers,” Singh submitted.