All Delhi schools to be closed from tomorrow till further orders due to poor air quality

NEW DELHI: Delhi environment minister Gopal Rai today said that all schools in Delhi will be closed from tomorrow till further orders, due to current air pollution levels. The announcement came after the Supreme Court again slammed the Delhi government for reopening schools amid the deteriorating air quality in the national capital.

Earlier today, the Supreme Court asked the Delhi government, "When the government implemented work from home for adults then why children are being forced to go to school."

The top court also said, “We feel there is nothing happening, in spite of air pollution levels rising.” A special bench headed by Chief Justice N V Ramana said the Aam Aadmi Party government had made various assurances such as work from home, lockdown, and closure of schools and colleges in the previous hearings. However, despite these assurances, the children were are going to school while elders are working from home.

The Delhi government had to shut schools, colleges on November 13 after the apex court termed the pollution in the capital as an "emergency" situation. On November 27, after a review meeting, Delhi education minister Manish Sisodia announced that Delhi schools for all classes will reopen from November 29 as the air quality in the national capital was improving.