Delhi Pollution: Supreme Court Advices Govt To Halt Physical Classes Amid Severe Air Quality Crisis

The Supreme Court advised states in the Delhi-NCR region to consider halting physical classes for students up to Class 12 due to worsening air quality. This move comes as the air pollution levels in the national capital remain severe. The court emphasised that both the Centre and states have a constitutional duty to ensure citizens breathe clean air.

Justice AS Oka and AG Masih, leading the bench, suggested forming committees to oversee construction and demolition activities as pollution worsens. Senior advocate Shadan Farasat highlighted that while classes up to 5th standard have shifted online, students in 10th and 12th grades continue attending school physically due to board exam preparations.

GRAP Stage 4 Restrictions

Under GRAP Stage IV, diesel-run medium and heavy goods vehicles registered in Delhi (BS-IV or below) are banned unless carrying essential goods. Non-essential light commercial vehicles from outside Delhi must use cleaner fuels like CNG, BS-VI diesel, or be electric. Trucks with non-essential items can only enter if they operate on LNG, CNG, or BS-VI diesel.

In response to the severe air quality, all classes except Grades 10 and 12 have moved online. Offices in NCR are advised to function at half capacity, with the rest of the staff working remotely. Construction activities such as highways, roads, flyovers, power lines, pipelines, and other public projects have been halted.

Supreme Court Criticises Delay

The Supreme Court criticised the Delhi government for delays in implementing GRAP Stage III measures amid rising pollution levels. The court questioned why actions were not taken sooner when the AQI crossed 300. "Why was the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) mechanism not invoked earlier?" asked the court during a hearing.

The bench demanded an explanation from the Delhi government regarding GRAP implementation. "The moment it crosses 401 AQI, you should have implemented GRAP 3," stated the Supreme Court to the Commission for Air Quality Management.

Impact on Education

Due to these restrictions under GRAP-IV, physical classes for all students except those in Classes 10 and 12 have been suspended. Senior Advocate Gopal Sankarnarayanan argued that students' health should take precedence over exams. He noted that lungs of students in higher grades are no different from others.

The Supreme Court's directive aims to protect students' health by reducing exposure to harmful pollutants during their commute and time spent at school. The decision reflects growing concerns over air quality's impact on public health across Delhi-NCR.

As pollution levels continue to rise, authorities are taking stringent measures under GRAP Stage IV from Monday onwards. These include restrictions primarily targeting diesel-run heavy goods vehicles and trucks carrying non-essential goods.

The Delhi government's implementation of these measures is crucial as AQI levels soar past 480 into hazardous territory. Breathing becomes difficult for people outdoors, especially during morning hours when pollution peaks.

This situation underscores an urgent need for coordinated efforts between state governments and central authorities in tackling air pollution effectively across regions affected by poor air quality indices.