The Supreme Court on Monday refused to relax the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP)-IV measures aimed at curbing severe air pollution in Delhi. The Court asked the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) in the national capital region and adjoining areas to consider restarting physical classes in schools and colleges noting many

Without being “satisfied that there is a consistent downward trend of AQI, we cannot permit the Commission to go down to stage 3 or stage 2,” the Supreme Court bench said on GRAP measures.

The Supreme Court on Monday (25 November) ordered the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) to review its decision to close schools in Delhi-NCR, particularly for Classes 10 to 12, in light of concerns over access to mid-day meals and air quality at home.

The Supreme Court also observed that the Delhi government did not properly follow Group 4 guidelines between November 18 and 23. The court said that appropriate steps were not taken to stop trucks from coming to Delhi.

The Court urged CAQM to immediately evaluate the possibility of allowing physical classes in schools and educational institutions, impacted by the ongoing pollution crisis.

The top court, however, refused to relax the anti-pollution GRAP-4 restrictions in Delhi-NCR and said unless it was satisfied that there was consistent decrease in AQI levels, it cannot order curbs below GRAP-3 or GRAP-2.

The bench is expected to take a call again on Wednesday by reviewing the AQI position and comparing it with the figures for the corresponding period in the past few years

Despite this, the bench refused to relax GRAP-4 restrictions, and noted that a sustained improvement in AQI levels was necessary to reduce curbs to GRAP-3 or GRAP-2.

Supreme Court says that unless satisfied there is consistent decrease in AQI, it can't order curbs below GRAP-3 or GRAP-2.

The Supreme Court on Monday directed the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) to immediately consider whether any relaxation can be given for holding physical classes for schools and educational institutions.