The physical classes have been suspended in the Delhi-NCR for more than a week now due to hazardous air quality.

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.

On Monday morning, Anand Vihar reported an AQI of 334, Ashok Vihar at 312, Bawana at 322, Chandni Chowk at 244, Dwarka at 297, IGI Airport at 260, Jahangirpuri at 323, Mundka at 340, Narela at 311, Patparganj at 287,

Delhi’s air quality has deteriorated to severe levels, forcing Noida schools to operate online until November 27. The District Inspector of Schools confirmed the suspension of physical classes due to hazardous AQI readings.

A bench of Justices Abhay S Oka and Augustine George Masih noted that the students were being deprived of mid-day meals and lacked wherewithal to attend virtual classes.

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.