The Supreme Court on Wednesday asked the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) to consider directing schools in Delhi-NCR to postpone all open-air sports competitions scheduled for November and December, citing the severe pollution levels and the heightened vulnerability of children.
A bench led by Chief Justice B.R. Gavai and Justice K. Vinod Chandran said the worsening air quality in the region requires “a pro-active approach” and that the court will continue to monitor the matter on a monthly basis.
The direction came after senior advocate Aprajita Singh, assisting the court as amicus curiae, flagged the alarming situation faced by children who are training outdoors despite hazardous pollution.
She told the court that while adults are indoors with air purifiers, “kids are training for sports and games competitions in an open gas chamber,” adding, “Children are most vulnerable. Holding sports now is like putting them in gas chambers.”
Taking note of her submission, the CJI requested the CAQM to “take this into consideration and issue necessary directions to shift such sports competitions to safer months.”
At the outset, Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati informed the bench that a high-level meeting was convened on Tuesday by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC), where long-term and short-term anti-pollution measures were discussed.
The amicus, however, pointed out that “there is already a long-term policy since 2018 and a graded response plan since 2015… all looks very good, but on the ground State Pollution Control Boards have no manpower.”
The bench underscored that reactive steps cannot be limited to periods of peak pollution.
It allowed CAQM and the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) to impose stricter restrictions under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) whenever required, based on real-time conditions.
The judges also highlighted the hardship faced by construction workers when GRAP restrictions halt activities. “We have already held that labourers depend on activities which are banned and thus suffer,” the CJI said.
The court asked Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, and Rajasthan to seek instructions and inform it at the next hearing about payment of subsistence allowances to affected workers.
On Tuesday, the bench had refused to impose year-round restrictions under GRAP, stressing that the plan is designed for emergency responses, not permanent prohibitions.
The court reiterated that sustainable solutions must replace temporary or piecemeal measures.
Emphasising the urgent need to curb farm fires, the bench directed Punjab and Haryana to “strictly follow” CAQM recommendations on stubble burning.
“If the CAQM’s suggestions… are implemented, then stubble burning can be adequately tackled,” the court observed, directing both states to hold a joint meeting and ensure scrupulous compliance.
Despite a reported fall in stubble-burning incidents in Punjab, the bench noted that air quality levels have not shown matching improvement.
GRAP is a graded system of emergency measures linked to Air Quality Index (AQI) levels:
- GRAP I: AQI 201–300 (poor)
- GRAP II: AQI 301–400 (very poor)
- GRAP III: AQI 401–450 (severe)
- GRAP IV: AQI 451+ (severe plus)
AQI categories defined by CPCB include “good” (0–50), “satisfactory” (51–100), “moderate” (101–200), “poor” (201–300), “very poor” (301–400), and “severe” (401–500).
- Nov 12: Court sought action-taken reports from Punjab and Haryana amidst worsening AQI.
- Nov 3: Court asked CAQM to file an affidavit detailing measures adopted to prevent further deterioration.
The matter will now be listed every month so that the Supreme Court can closely monitor the implementation of anti-pollution strategies in the capital region.
