The Delhi High Court Thursday directed the Centre, Delhi government and others to treat as representation a plea cautioning against the risk of airborne spread of COVID-19 infection in closed spaces having air conditioning with no ventilation.
A Bench of Chief Justice DN Patel and Justice Singh directed that the representation be decided as per the law and policy by the two governments, Central Pollution Control Board, Delhi Pollution Control Committee, Delhi Development Authority, Municipal Corporation of Delhi, Bureau of Indian Standards and Central Public Works Department as expeditiously as possible and practicable.
The court said that since the issue has to be considered by an expert body and required formulation of a policy, it "deemed it appropriate" to refer it to the respondent authorities".
"It is a larger issue. Your case is genuine. Have you gone to the government? We are giving them direction to decide," said CJ Patel.
Appearing for the petitioner Raja Singh, advocate KC Mittal argued that even though the COVID-19 virus "spreads like anything" in air-conditioning, no steps were taken by the authorities in this regard.
He urged the court to intervene before the third wave of COVID-19.
In his petition filed through advocates Yugansh Mittal and Amit Shahi, Singh claimed that fresh air changes should be provided in buildings having air conditioning to reduce the threat of COVID-19 virus spreading through airborne route.
"...dilution ventilation diffuses the concentration of the droplets as such minimizing the probability of infection. It is stated that the dilution of air is easiest in open air," the petition reads.
The plea added that ventilation and using air conditioners with open windows or proper dilution ventilation may serve as a game-changer.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
Court Refuses To Cancel Case Against Delhi University Professor For "Shiva Linga" Post "Can't Order Roving...": High Court On Probe Into Sexual Harassment In Film Industry Covid mRNA Vaccines Contributing To Deaths, Doctors Call For Suspension 3 Khalistani Terrorists, Who Attacked Punjab Cops, Killed In UP Encounter Bashar Al-Assad's Wife Files For Divorce, Wants To Return To UK: Report 3 Marriages, Rs 1.25 Crore: How 'Looteri Dulhan' Targeted Rich Men Video Shows Drones Collide, Fall Onto Crowd At Holiday Show In US BJP MPs, Injured In Parliament Stand-Off, Discharged From Hospital After 5 Days "It's Love...": Kate Middleton's Christmas Message After A Difficult Year Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.