Lungs of 10th, 12th Students Not Different: SC Asks States to Stop Physical Classes Amid Severe AQI

New Delhi: Supreme Court on Monday directed all states to suspend physical classes for students up to class 12 in view of severe pollution in Delhi-NCR. Court me it clear that all classes up to 12th will be taught only in online mode. Supreme Court Justice Sr v Gopal S said, “ lungs of 10th and 12th students cannot be different than or students. If a direction can be given to stop those physical classes as well.”

Supreme Court furr ded that all states should take an immediate call to stop physical classes of all standards up to class 12.

Court urged states to take immediate action to halt in-person learning for all standards, reiterating that online classes should be norm until pollution levels improve.

Court also criticised Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) for waiting on wear conditions inste of implementing Gred Response Action Plan (GRAP) measures promptly. It directed that restrictions under stage 4 of GRAP should remain in effect even if Air Quality Index (AQI) dips below 450.

ditionally, Supreme Court instructed all NCR states to form teams to strictly enforce GRAP stage 4 restrictions and create a mechanism to handle complaints about violations.

SC Questions Delhi Government on Delayed GRAP-4 Implementation

Earlier, in day Supreme Court also questioned Delhi government over delay in implementation of stricter anti-pollution measures under GRAP-4, and said it will not allow scaling down of preventive measures without its prior permission.

A bench of Justices Abhay S Oka and Augustine George Masih pointed out that re was a delay in implementation of preventive measures under stage 4 of Gred Response Action Plan (GRAP) even after Air Quality Index (AQI) touched alarming levels in national capital.

At outset, counsel for Delhi government informed bench that stage 4 of GRAP has been implemented from Monday and heavy vehicles have been banned from entering national capital.

Court Stresses Immediate Action to Prevent Risk

“ moment AQI reaches between 300 and 400, stage 4 has to be invoked. How can you take risk in se matters by delaying applicability of stage 4 of GRAP,” bench told counsel.

It told state government that court wants to know what steps it has taken to curb alarming rise of pollution level.
"We won’t allow scaling down of preventive measures under stage 4 even if AQI goes below 450. Stage 4 will continue till court permits," bench said, ding it will hear matter in detail at end of day’s work.

CAQM Imposes Stricter Pollution Measures Effective Monday

On Sunday, CAQM announced stricter pollution control measures for Delhi-NCR under GRAP-4, effective from 8 am on Monday, including a ban on truck entry and a temporary halt on construction at public projects.

Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) issued order as Delhi's Air Quality Index (AQI) worsened, reaching 441 at 4 pm and rising to 457 by 7 pm due to unfavourable wear conditions.

GRAP-IV Imposed in Delhi-NCR; What's Allowed, What's Not

What's Not Allowed

Truck Entry into Delhi:

• All non-essential trucks were prohibited from entering Delhi.
• Exceptions were me for trucks carrying essential goods like food and medicine.
• Vehicles running on clean fuels, such as LNG, CNG, BS-VI diesel, or electricity, were exempted from ban.

Construction and Demolition Activities:

• All public construction and demolition projects, including work on highways, ros, flyovers, pipelines, and power lines, were halted.
• Private construction activities were also restricted under ban.

Non-Essential Light Commercial Vehicles:

• Non-essential light commercial vehicles registered outside Delhi were barred from entering city.
• Electric vehicles (EVs) and those running on CNG or BS-VI diesel were allowed to operate.

Older Diesel Goods Vehicles:

• Delhi-registered BS-IV or older diesel medium and heavy goods vehicles were banned.
• Exceptions were granted only to vehicles used for essential services, such as waste management or emergency supplies.

What's Allowed

Educational justments:

• Schools were shifted students from Classes 6 to 9 and Class 11 to online teaching.
• Students in or classes could continue with offline learning, subject to school discretion.

Workplace Operations:

• Private offices in National Capital Region (NCR) were directed to operate at 50% capacity.
• remaining workforce was encouraged to work from home.
• Central government employees were vised to opt work-from-home arrangements, subject to departmental approval.

State-Specific Measures:

• State governments in NCR were empowered to take ditional measures, such as shutting down colleges, limiting non-essential commercial activities, or implementing odd-even vehicle rules to reduce vehicular emissions.

Right to Clean Air is a Fundamental Right, Says SC

On November 14, top court h agreed to urgently list plea after it was told that Delhi should not become most polluted city in world due to rising pollution.

It h earlier said right to live in a pollution-free atmosphere was a fundamental right of every citizen, protected by Article 21 of Constitution.

apex court is hearing a plea seeking directions to curb air pollution in national capital and joining areas.