NEW DELHI: The Supreme Courtroom on Monday directed all NCR states to implement Graded Response Motion Plan (GRAP) Stage 4 even when the AQI drops under 400, and ordered all state and central governments to file compliance affidavits. The apex courtroom additionally ordered all states to instantly represent groups to observe the implementation of actions required underneath Stage 4.
A bench comprising Justices Abhay S. Oka and Augustine George Masih, in its order, mentioned, “We direct all governments of the NCR space to strictly implement Stage 4 of GRAP. All states will instantly represent groups for monitoring the implementation of actions required underneath Stage 4.”
“The NCR state governments and the central authorities must instantly take a name on actions offered in clauses 6, 7, and eight of Stage 4 and place the choice taken on document earlier than the subsequent date,” the highest courtroom added.
The highest courtroom additionally directed the Delhi authorities in addition to different NCR governments to create a grievance redressal mechanism to allow residents to lodge complaints about violations of actions underneath Stage 4.
“We direct the Delhi authorities and different governments to create grievance redressal mechanisms to allow residents to lodge complaints of violations underneath Stage 4. We direct the fee to look into the complaints instantly and take motion. We make it clear that, till additional orders are handed by this courtroom, implementation of Stage 4 will proceed even when AQI ranges drop under 450,” the apex courtroom mentioned.
“It’s the constitutional obligation of the state and centre that residents stay in a pollution-free surroundings. The Supreme Courtroom says that other than all clauses of GRAP Stage 3 and 4, all crucial steps needs to be taken by the federal government to make sure that the state of affairs normalises,” it added.
The Supreme Courtroom additionally instructed the NCR states to take a call on stopping bodily courses for all college students as much as Class 12 and shifting to on-line courses.
Earlier in the course of the listening to, the SC rebuked the Delhi authorities for delaying the implementation of the Graded Response Motion Plan (GRAP) Stage 4, stating that preventive measures would stay in impact till additional orders, no matter fluctuations in air high quality.
“We cannot enable cutting down of preventive measures underneath Stage 4 even when AQI goes under 450. Stage 4 will proceed till the courtroom permits in any other case,” the bench mentioned.
The CAQM had earlier introduced stricter air pollution management protocols for Delhi-NCR underneath GRAP Stage 4, which got here into impact from 8 am on Monday. These embody a ban on the entry of vehicles and halting development actions for public initiatives.
On November 11, the bench had criticized the shortage of enforcement throughout Diwali, observing that no faith condones actions dangerous to public well being.
Reprimanding the Delhi Police, the courtroom acknowledged their actions had been inadequate, with solely uncooked supplies being confiscated. The bench directed the Delhi Police Commissioner to ascertain a specialised cell to implement the ban throughout the Nationwide Capital Area (NCR) and file a private affidavit on the steps taken.
“The proper to stay in a pollution-free surroundings is a elementary proper underneath Article 21 of the Structure,” the bench had mentioned. It additionally directed the Delhi authorities to determine by November 25 on imposing a everlasting firecracker ban.
