Deepali Kalia –
Published on August 05, 2021, at 06:38 PM
On August 5, the Delhi High Court Bench of Chief Justice DN Patel and Justice Singh directed the Centre, State government and others to consider as a representation a plea regarding the risk of COVID-19 spread through airborne route in closed spaces with air conditioning and no ventilation.
The Bench issued directions stating that representation is decided according to the law and policy of the two governments, Delhi Pollution Control Committee, Central Pollution Control Board, Municipal Corporation of Delhi, Delhi Development Authority, Central Public Works Department and Bureau of Indian Standards with as much speed and efficiency as possible.
Noting that the issue required consideration by an expert body and necessitated formulation of a policy, the Court stated that ‘it deemed it appropriate to refer the issue 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”, Chief Justice DN Patel stated.
Advocate KC Mittal, who appeared for Raja Singh, the petitioner submitted that although it is well acknowledged that COVID-19 ‘spreads like anything’ in air conditioning, no apparent steps have yet been taken by the authorities in this regard.
In order to reduce the risk of COVID-19 virus spread through the airborne route, buildings having air conditioning should be supplied with fresh air changes, Raja Singh claimed in his petition filed through advocates Amit Shahi and Yugansh Mittal.
“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 claimed.
Therefore, utilizing air conditioners with open windows or proper dilution ventilation could prove to be a game-changer, the plea submitted.