Supreme Court urges delaying outdoor sports events for Delhi NCR schools over air pollution crisis

As toxic air continues to wrap New Delhi and surrounding areas, the Supreme Court on Wednesday directed the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) to examine whether schools should postpone open-air sports competitions scheduled for November and December.

A bench led by Chief Justice BR Gavai and Justice K Vinod Chandran said the continuing air-quality emergency in the national capital region requires sustained judicial oversight and should be reviewed every month.

The top court issued the advisory after senior advocate Aprajita Singh, assisting the bench as amicus curiae, noted the stark contrast between adults sitting indoors with air purifiers while students train outdoors “in a gas chamber.”


“Children are most vulnerable. Holding sports now is like putting them in gas chambers," she said during the hearing.

"We request CAQM to take this into consideration and issue necessary directions to shift such sport competition to safer months," CJI Gavai said in response.