New Delhi: All schools in Delhi will be closed from Friday till further orders, due to current air pollution levels in the city, Environment Minister Gopal Rai said on Thursday.
The announcement comes close on the heels of the Supreme Court hauling up the Delhi government’s decision to reopen schools. The top court gave a 24-hour ultimatum to the Centre, Delhi and other neighbouring states to take action to control pollution in the National Capital Region.
“We had reopened schools considering the forecast that air quality would improve. However, the air pollution levels have increased again and we have decided to shut schools from Friday till further orders,” Rai said.
On November 24, despite recording ‘very poor’ air quality, schools were allowed to reopen for physical classes.
“We feel that nothing is happening and the pollution keeps increasing… only time is being wasted,” Chief Justice NV Ramana said during the hearing on Wednesday.
The Supreme Court criticised the Delhi government’s decision to reopen schools and said that “three-year-olds and four-year-olds are going to schools but adults are working from home”. “We will appoint somebody to administer your government.”
“On schools, there is a lot of debate on ‘learning loss’. We reopened with the condition including the option for online,” Advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, who represented the Delhi government said.
“You are saying you left it optional. But who wants to sit at home? We also have children and grandchildren. We know the problems they have been facing since the pandemic. If you don’t take action we will take strict action tomorrow. We are giving you 24 hours,” the Chief Justice said.
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