'GRAP IV Not To Be Removed Without Court Permission': SC Raps Delhi Govt, Orders Online Classes For 10th & 12th

As the air quality index in Delhi nears 500, the Supreme Court of India has once again condemned the Delhi government for its lack of action to prevent the worsening air quality.

Hearing the matter on Monday, a bench comprising of Justices Abhay S Oka and Augustine George Masih questioned the NCT government regarding the delay in implementing Stage three of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP).

READ | Delhi Pollution: GRAP IV, Online Classes And Orange Alert Enforced As Air Quality Worsens

As of 8 AM, the AQI levels across Delhi crossed 480, prompting the implementation of GRAP IV.

"The moment it reaches 300 to 400 GRAP has to be invoked. How can you take risk in such matters of delaying applicability of GRAP?" the court asked the AAP government.

The apex court further told the Delhi government that scaling down of any preventive measures will now require court permission and should not be done even if the AQI drops below 450.

"You will not go below stage 3 without our permission now even if it even if AQI goes below 450 stage four will continue, that's the order we propose to pass," the court told the counsel appearing for Delhi government.

SC Orders Online Classes For 10th and 12th

The constant fall in air quality in Delhi-NCR has prompted the enforcement of Stage-IV actions under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) to the region, which restricts physical classes for school students, suspensions of public construction projects, etc.

On Sunday, the Delhi CM Atishi announced online classes for all school students except for the students of classes 10th and 12th. However, keeping the worsening situation in mind, the SC ordered online classes for the students of classes 10th and 12th as well.

The Supreme Court also intervened and directed the Centre and the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) to procure data from geostationary satellites on farm fire instances instead of from NASA polar-orbiting satellites.

Blame Game Amid Hazardous AQI

Delhi CM Atishi has blamed the Bhartiya Janta Party-led governments in the neighbouring states. As per the AAP leader, the BJP government has not taken any steps to ensure stubble burning was reduced, resulting in hazardous AQI levels across the national capital.

Speaking at a press conference, Atishi said the "BJP-led central government has been doing politics over the issue of pollution but has taken no step to check stubble burning in states like Haryana, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh."

Air quality in Delhi has been deteriorating since October. Every year, Delhi and the national capital region are engulfed by a thick blanket of smog.