The Supreme Court heard on Wednesday the deepening crisis of air pollution in Delhi-NCR. During this time the issue of closure of schools in Delhi was raised. Advocate Maneka Guruswamy argued that every time schools are closed, poor children suffer the most as they are deprived of facilities like mid-day meals. On this, Chief Justice of India Surya Kant said that we should leave this matter to experts.
The Supreme Court said that school holidays will continue. He said that we pray that the pollution reduces before the end of the holidays. During the hearing a lawyer tried to argue. On which CJI Surya Kant said that our problem is that in such cases we get less advice from experts and in their place lawyers become experts.
During the hearing on the air pollution crisis in Delhi-NCR, the lawyer appearing for the workers’ organization raised the issue of non-payment of allowances. On this, the Supreme Court directed the Delhi government to investigate the construction workers sitting idle due to restrictions and send money to their accounts. The Supreme Court asked the Delhi government to consider providing alternative work to construction workers idle due to restrictions. The Delhi government argued that 7,000 of the 2.5 lakh construction workers have been verified and funds will be transferred to their accounts.
At the same time, the Supreme Court said that the money transferred to the workers’ accounts should not disappear, nor should it go to any other account. During the hearing, the issue of pollution caused by jams at many toll plazas in Delhi was also raised. On this, the Supreme Court said that why the authorities do not say that there will be no toll plazas till January. CJI Surya Kant said that tomorrow the Delhi government will build a toll plaza in Connaught Place because it needs money.
While issuing instructions, the CJI said that 9 toll plazas of Delhi Government should be considered closed for some time. He also set a deadline of one week to take a decision on this.
