SC directs all states to immediately stop all physical classes for Class 10 and 12 students, says their lungs no different

The Supreme Court on Nov 18 said that 'lungs of class 10th and 12th students are no different' and that the states should immediately stop all physical classes for students up to Class 12.

The apex court was hearing a petition which sought directions to control air pollution in Delhi and nearby areas.

Senior advocate Gopal Sankaranarayanan who represented the petitioner said the "lungs of 10th and 12th students cannot be different than the other students."

"The lungs of 10th and 12th students cannot be different than the other students... if a direction can be given to stop those physical classes as well," the advocate was quoted as saying by Bar and Bench.

The bench comprising Justices Abhay S Oka and Augustine George Masih then directed all states in the NCR region to immediately suspend physical classes for students up to class 12.

In light of the worsening air quality, the Delhi government announced on Nov 17 that, starting Nov 18, all students, except those in classes 10 and 12, would no longer attend physical classes.

The government also imposed restrictions under Stage IV of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP), as the air quality deteriorated to "severe plus" levels on the night of Nov 17.

GRAP-IV provides the central and NCR governments the option to allow staff to work from home.

"With the imposition of GRAP-IV from tomorrow, physical classes shall be discontinued for all students, apart from Class 10 and 12. All schools will hold online classes until further orders," Chief Minister Atishi said in a post on X on Nov 17.

Until further notice, all schools will continue classes online. GRAP-IV provides the central

Meanwhile, the Haryana government declared holidays for all students up to class 5 in both government and private schools.

Depending on local air quality, deputy commissioners have been directed to either extend the holidays or shift to online classes.

As for school closures, the Punjab and Uttar Pradesh governments have not yet issued any statements.

The primary reason cited for the increased air pollution in Delhi and surrounding areas is the burning of stubble in Punjab and Haryana following the October and Nov paddy harvest.

Earlier, Delhi's average Air Quality Index (AQI) dropped to the season's worst of 441 at 4 pm on Nov 17, entering the "severe" zone.

As the toxic haze persisted over the National Capital Region (NCR), it worsened further, surpassing 450 by 6 pm and entering the "severe plus" category.

The primary goal of GRAP Stage IV is to reduce pollution by restricting vehicular movement.

This includes prohibiting non-emergency trucks from entering Delhi, including BS-4 and lower diesel-operated medium and heavy freight vehicles, as well as non-BS6 compliant light commercial vehicles (LCVs) registered outside Delhi.

Construction and demolition (C&D) activities on linear public projects, such as roads, highways, flyovers, bridges, power transmission, and pipelines, which were previously exempt, have now been included in the restrictions starting Nov 17.

Previously, on Nov 15, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) implemented stringent measures to reduce pollution levels and enforced GRAP Stage III in the capital after the air quality remained in the "severe" category for the third consecutive day.

This prevented interstate buses from entering Delhi, suspended mining-related activities, mandated daily sprinkling of water on major roads, and allowed students up to class 5 to attend online classes.

In Delhi, an AQI above 400 signifies extreme air pollution, which poses serious risks to human health, the environment, and the economy.

It leads to long-term illnesses like asthma, particularly in the elderly and children, and causes acute respiratory and cardiovascular stress.

According to the Indian Council of Medical Research, air pollution causes over 1.2 million deaths annually. Long-term exposure increases the risk of lung conditions, heart disease, and stroke.

The World Health Organization (WHO) and India’s Health Ministry emphasize that air pollution raises the risk of premature death from cardiovascular diseases (CVD).

As thousands violated the ban on firecrackers during Diwali celebrations, Delhi's air quality deteriorated on the morning of Nov 1.

Residents disregarded the rules until late at night as the ceaseless explosions produced excessive pollution and covered the nation's capital in thick smoke.

Depending on the severity of the problem, air quality is categorized into four stages: "Poor" (AQI 201-300) in Stage I; "Very Poor" (AQI 301-400) in Stage II; "Severe" (AQI 401-450) in Stage III; and "Severe Plus" (AQI > 450) in Stage IV.