The Supreme Court on Monday directed schools to discontinue physical classes and also announced other emergency measures “until further orders” in Delhi in view of the worsening pollution levels in the national capital.

Delhi’s air quality took a turn for the worse on Monday, with areas like Dwarka, Mundka and Najafgarh recording a maximum AQI of 500 in the afternoon.

People complained of itchy and watery eyes as a dense layer of smog continued to envelop the national capital. The city’s Air Quality Index (AQI) was recorded at 484, the worst this season, at 8am on Monday. By 2pm, the AQI worsened further and stood at 491, according to the Central Pollution Control Board.

The apex court expressed deep dismay over the court-appointed Commission for Air Quality Management’s purported failure to implement emergency measures despite the pollution levels rising at an alarming pace over the past week.

A bench of Justice A.S. Oka and Justice Augustine Masih also expressed dissatisfaction with the failure of the authorities in Delhi, Haryana and Punjab, and also the central government, to take necessary steps for effectively combating the menace.

“All states will take an immediate call on stopping physical classes of all standards,” the bench said in an order.

With the AQI crossing 450, the Commission for Air Quality Management in the National Capital Region (NCR) and adjoining areas ordered the implementation of Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) Stage-IV restrictions
in Delhi-NCR.

The Supreme Court said the Delhi government must not scale down the preventive measures without its permission. The court asked the Delhi-NCR states to immediately set up teams to enforce GRAP 4 restrictions which, it said, would remain in effect even if the AQI is below 450.

A total of 14 flights were diverted and many delayed at Delhi airport on Monday as bad weather caused poor visibility, according to an official. Air India, SpiceJet and IndiGo informed
passengers through X that flights may be affected because of poor visibility. Of the 14 flights,
13 were diverted to Jaipur and one to Dehradun.