Delhi schools ordered to stop outdoor activities in view of severe pollution
Delhi schools halt outdoor activities after Supreme Court warns of severe air pollution. Children face health risks from PM2.5 and PM10, prompting urgent action to protect young lungs during toxic winter months.
New Delhi: Delhi schools have been ordered to stop outdoor activities after the order of the Supreme Court, highlighting the severe threat that air pollution poses to children. This comes after Delhi saw dangerous pollution levels for a week, sparking public concern for kids’ well-being.
Court flags health risk
Earlier, the Delhi High Court had made a strong observation during a plea filed by minor students. Justice Sachin Datta questioned why schools continued outdoor sports during Delhi’s most polluted months. He emphasised that children "should not take part in outdoor sports” from November to January and urged authorities to revise the sports calendar to protect their health.
The Supreme Court also instructed the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) to ensure that school sports are shifted to cleaner months. The bench warned that exposing children to outdoor activities during peak pollution levels is forcing them to put them in a "gas chamber,” underlining the seriousness of the crisis.
Children at higher risk
Air quality in Delhi recently marked in the "severe” category, dangerous even for healthy adults. Doctors have warned that children are especially vulnerable: their lungs are still developing, they breathe faster, and their smaller bodies absorb more toxins with each breath. Prolonged exposure to pollutants like PM2.5 and PM10 can permanently affect lung growth, trigger asthma, weaken immunity, and even impact cognitive development.
For many families, the dangers of winter pollution are already felt daily, continuous coughs, frequent use of inhalers, cancelled outdoor play, and increased hospital visits. Paediatric pulmonologists report that hospital consultations spike by 30-40 per cent every November.
The courts’ directives are more than administrative instructions, they are essential public health measures to protect Delhi’s children. As the city enters another harsh winter, the judiciary’s message is clear: children should not be forced to breathe toxic air so that the system can continue as usual. Immediate action is needed, or the "gas chamber” warning could become a tragic reality for a generation growing up in Delhi.