Delhi Air Pollution | Parents Belonging To Underprivileged Sections Urge Supreme Court To Review Suspension Of Physical Classes

The Supreme Court on Friday (November 22) heard an application filed by parents of students belonging to the underprivileged communities raising concerns about the Delhi Government's order suspending physical classes for students up to Class 12 amidst the air pollution crisis.

The bench of Justice AS Oka and Justice AG Masih was hearing a batch of petitions regarding the worsening air pollution in Delhi-NCR. 

Notably, the suspension orders came after the Court on November 18, directed all the NCR states to immediately take a call on suspending physical classes for students up to Class 12. 

Sr Advocate Maneka Guruswamy, appearing for the applicants, suggested that physical schooling be allowed for their children as such schools were mostly located nearby. She added that the facility of mid-day meals in the schools was a key incentive for poor children to attend classes.

"The air in our homes are not cleaner and we do not have purifiers or devices laptops etc, to join online classes. This happened to us in lockdown also. The suggestion is to have a system where those parents who would like to send their children to school is there because most of the poor send their children to school close to their homes. The mid-day meal is also an incentive."

"Travelling long distances is an elite phenomenon," she added.

Guruswamy stressed that because of a secure environment offered in a school, the working-class mother and father could continue going to work with ease. 

"School enables working class mothers and fathers to go to work because it secures the child. Now working-class people are being forced to stay home." 

Senior Advocate Aparajita Singh, amicus curiae in the matter, submitted, "this is the worst phase[of air pollution] in the last six or seven years. The children are breathing toxic air. "

Guruswamy reverted that such families would not have the privilege of air purifiers at home to ensure fresh air for children either way. She also added that special needs children cannot be educated in online classes and require a separate set of conducive environments all together. 

The Court said that it would consider on Monday (November 25) whether the situation has improved to scale down the restrictions from GRAP 4 to GRAP 2.

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Case Title – MC Mehta v. Union of India WP (C) 13029/1985