CAQM Enforces Mandatory GRAP Rules Against Supreme Court Criticism | Delhi News

New Delhi: CAQM on Monday made changes to the GRAP scheme after the Supreme Court criticized the authority and the Delhi government for their laxity and delay in implementation of measures.
The changes mandate suspension of physical classes in schools up to Class V and implementation of staggered timings for offices under GRAP-III. The amendments also mandate suspension of on-campus education up to Class XII under GRAP-IV.
CAQM Clause 11 of the scheme under GRAP Phase-III said: “Implementation of this clause shall be mandatory for NCR and Gurgaon, Faridabad, Ghaziabad and Gautam Buddh Nagar. State governments may decide to implement the clause for other NCR districts.”
Article 11 under GRAP-III gave the state governments in NCR and Delhi an option to decide to suspend physical classes in schools for children up to Class V and conduct classes online. However, the amendment now makes this step mandatory under GRAP-III, which applies when the AQI is in the ‘severe’ category.
CAQM also added a clause as clause 12 in GRAP-III: “The state governments of GNCTD and NCR will stagger the timings for public offices and municipal bodies in Delhi and Gurgaon, Faridabad, Ghaziabad and Gautam Buddh Nagar.”
Under Phase-IV, the new amendments make Article-5 mandatory. This means that under Phase IV, implemented under severe plus AQI, NCR state governments and Delhi must now stop physical classes even for Class VI-IX and Class XI. All classes must be online.