School students move Delhi HC seeking direction to halt sports events during peak pollution time

NEW DELHI: A group of school students have approached the Delhi High Court seeking a direction to ensure that tournaments and trials for outdoor sports are not scheduled in the capital during the peak pollution months of November to January and are held during a safer time when air quality is better.

The minors, who have filed the petition through their parents, said they actively participate in state scheduled sports tournaments, camps and trials in Delhi and other parts of the country.

They said it is scientifically established and judicially noticed fact that Delhi faces an annual public health emergency during the winter months and the scheduling of the school, inter-zonal, state and national level sporting events in the city around this period is increasingly becoming a major health issue for children participating in such events.

Also read Bihar: Online attendance via e-Shikshakosh a ‘burden on teachers’ but has curbed absenteeism

It said year after year, authorities continue to conduct these outdoor sporting events at a time when Delhi’s air quality is verifiably and foreseeably ‘severe’ and ‘hazardous’. This repeated scheduling forces children, recognised as a vulnerable group, to undertake strenuous physical activity in toxic air, violating their fundamental rights, the plea said, adding that during this period, the Air Quality Index (AQI) frequently remains in the "Severe" category.

It sought a direction to the Delhi government’s Directorate of Education and School Federation of India Games to schedule the annual sports calendar (including all zonal, inter-zonal, state, and national tournaments, trials and coaching camps) for all outdoor sports in the capital during safer and less susceptible months with verifiably better ambient air quality.

The petitioners said at the time of filing the plea, the city was under the Grade Response Action Plan-III (GRAP-III) emergency plan and risked escalation to GRAP-IV. It said such exposure causes "diminished growth of lungs", cognitive impairment and acute cardiovascular strain in children.