School sports events will conclude before peak pollution months: Delhi government assures Delhi HC

The Delhi High Court on Monday closed a plea seeking directions against holding outdoor sporting events in the national capital during peak pollution months [Nysa Bedi Vs Government of Delhi].

The Court took note of a fresh circular issued by the Delhi government's Department of Education (DoE) declaring that the Delhi State School Games (DSSG) will end by October this year, before the winter months begin when pollution levels are likely to rise.

"We have filed an affidavit. We have also issued a fresh circular by DoE for Delhi State School Games (DSSG). My Lord may kindly see that all games end in the month of October 2026 which was the grievance of petitioner," advocate Harshita Nathrani submitted on behalf of Delhi government.

In view of this revised schedule, Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma closed a petition filed by a group of students on the issue.

The High Court was hearing a plea filed by a group of minor schoolchildren seeking directions to the DoE to ensure that the annual sports calendar is framed in such a way that outdoor sports tournaments are not scheduled in Delhi in the winter season when pollution levels hit a peak.

The plea noted that the authorities conduct zonal, inter-zonal, state and national-level outdoor sporting events at a time when Delhi’s air quality is verifiably and foreseeably ‘severe’ and ‘hazardous’.

According to the petitioners, this repeated scheduling of sporting events during the winter months forces children to undertake strenuous physical activity in toxic air, violating their fundamental rights under Articles 21 and 21A of the Constitution.

In February earlier this year, the Delhi government's standing counsel Sameer Vashisht,had expressed inability to change the schedule of annual sports calendar to prohibit outdoor sporting events in Delhi schools.

Meanwhile, Senior Advocate Shyel Trehan, representing the students, submitted that forcing children to stay outdoors when the Air Quality Index (AQI) is at threatening levels and asking them to take part in sports was destroying their lungs.

In today's hearing, Trehan agreed with the revised sports calendar issued by the DoE.

"I am very happy to see this. This is what the children came for. This is a positive step."

In view of this, the Court closed the matter.

"I think I can dispose it," the Court stated and closed the petition.

Advocates Manjira Dasgupta, Bhargav Ravindran Thali, Rohan Poddar, Mayank Khaitan and Vidhi Jain also appeared for the petitioners/ students (who filed the petition through their parents).

Advocate Harshita Nathrani appeared for the Department of Education.

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