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Supreme Court clarifies it never asked Delhi government to shut schools
CJI NV Ramana said the Supreme Court has been portrayed as the villain after it questioned the Delhi government on Thursday regarding schools functioning amid pollution.
A day after the Delhi government suspended physical classes in the schools of the capital owing to the increasing levels of pollution, the Supreme Court on Friday clarified that it did not ask the government to shut schools. It only asked the reasons behind the change in the stance of the government, the Chief Justice of India-led bench said as it continued hearing the case. The Apex Court on Thursday gave the Delhi government a 24-hour deadline to place some concrete steps against pollution. As the government listed the decisions it took, including that of the suspension of physical classes, the Supreme Court gave go-ahead to the Delhi government for the construction works of hospitals.
5-member task force to monitor compliance amid ‘very poor’ air quality in Delhi
The bench on Thursday questioned the government why it allowed the office-going population to work from home while it resumed physical classes for school children, exposing them to the threats of hazardous pollution. As the Delhi government informed the court on Thursday that coming to school is voluntary and online classes are also going on, the court observed that if there is an option, people will send their kids to schools. Following the rap of the Supreme Court, Delhi environment minister Gopal Rai announced the suspension of physical classes starting from Friday for an indefinite period, until further notice. The minister also said that physical classes resumed from November 29 based on the pollution condition of the Capital at that time.
On Friday, advocate Abhishek Singhvi, appearing for the Delhi government, submitted to the court that schools have been closed. He also added that physical classes were on only for 17 days in November.
The CJI said some sections of media have projected the Supreme Court as villains. "We’ve observed, don’t know whether it's intentional or not, Some sections of media try to project we are villains and we want the closure of schools. You had said we were closing schools & introducing work from home. And see today newspapers!" the CJI said.
Adding to CJI's comment, Singhvi said one newspaper reported the hearing as if it took place in administrative combat.
The Supreme Court was told the Commission for Air Quality Management has constituted an enforcement task force to monitor compliance with the pollution directions. The commission informed the court that it has already constituted 17 flying squads to take punitive action against violators and will increase the number to 40 in the next 24 hours.
