'Laudable Cause': Delhi High Court Directs Centre To Consider Plea For Ventilation Of Air-Conditioned/ Closed Buildings Amid Covid-19

The Delhi High Court last week disposed of a PIL seeking measures enabling proper "dilution-ventilation" of air amid the Covid-19 pandemic, especially in air conditioned/ closed environments such as public buildings, buses, etc.A Division Dench of Chief Justice DN Patel and Justice Jyoti Singh asked the Centre to treat the petition as a representation and decide the issue with respect to applicable laws, regulations and policies."An expert body is required to look into these issues. I had also inspected the High Court building with a team of experts and necessary changes were carried out," the Chief Justice told the Petitioner.At the outset, the Court observed that the cause brought forth by the Petitioner is laudable. It however observed that the the exercise can only be carried out by the Experts in the said field.The order stated,"This Court does not have the necessary expertise to direct the Respondents to act in a particular manner. The required steps can only be carried out by the concerned Respondents after due deliberation with the experts in the field, which would entail visiting the premises and suggesting measures, which again could vary from one place to another. If necessary, this may also require framing a Policy/Guidelines to reduce the air pollution by resorting to methods, such as dilution-ventilation, as suggested by the Petitioner. We, therefore, deem it appropriate to direct the concerned Respondent Authorities to treat this writ petition as a representation and look into the suggestions made by the Petitioner, who is stated to be a Research Scholar working in the field of Airborne Infection Spread. We are sanguine that the Respondents would take appropriate and necessary measures to improve the air quality in the larger public interest. The representation of the Petitioner shall be decided by the concerned Respondents, in accordance with law and Government policies applicable to the facts of the case as expeditiously as possible and practicable, especially keeping in view the need for urgent measures on account of Pandemic COVID-19."Filed by one Raja Singh through Advocate Yugansh Mittal & Amit P. Shahi, the plea highlighted that there is a high risk of pathogens and biological contaminants being spread through air conditioners. It thus sought deployment of preventive methodologies, especially in the inbuilt environment where there is frequent use of cooler, heater, air conditioner etc. "One of the major reasons for the worsening air quality is the presence of biological contaminants in air as well as the improper dilution and ventilation of air in built-up spaces, such as houses, offices as well as air-conditioned modes of transport, such as buses, trains etc.," the Petitioner had contended.He suggested that fresh air changes can be provided in buildings having Central Air Conditioning, Variable refrigerant volume/flow systems, split/window air conditioners, heaters, etc."Very prominent way of providing dilution ventilation is by increasing the fresh air supply into the Air Handling Units of buildings which have Central Air Conditioners after filtering the outdoor air and making it free of dust and pollutants which leads to proper dilution-ventilation as also prevent the spread of airborne infection in the space directly," stated the plea.Case Title: Raja Singh v. UoI & Ors.Case No.: WP (C) 7810/2021Click Here To Download Order

'Laudable Cause': Delhi High Court Directs Centre To Consider Plea For Ventilation Of Air-Conditioned/ Closed Buildings Amid Covid-19

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Sound ventilation and using air conditioners with open windows or proper dilution ventilation may serve as a game changer in these cases, the plea stated.

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