DU's Shaheed Bhagat Singh College shifts to online mode as AQI worsens; GRAP 4 restrictions imposed

NEW DELHI: Amid the worsening air quality crisis in Delhi, educational institutions are taking immediate steps to ensure the safety and well-being of students and faculty. Shaheed Bhagat Singh College, University of Delhi, has announced the transition to online classes, citing the hazardous air quality in the Chirag Delhi area. This move follows the Supreme Court's intervention mandating Stage 4 restrictions under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP), which includes the closure of schools and the suspension of physical classes for grades 10 and 12.

Shaheed Bhagat Singh College announced to shift classes in online mode with immediate effect, citing poor air quality in the Chirag Delhi area. The official notice emphasised that this measure aims to safeguard the health of students and faculty. The classes will follow the existing timetable, and attendance will be recorded through the Saksham ERP portal.

"It is hereby notified for the information of all the teachers and students of the College that due to the prevailing poor air quality in Chirag Delhi and nearby area of the college, all the classes for the students of the College will be conducted in an ONLINE mode with immediate effect as per the time table notified by the College till further orders", the official notice read.

The teachers have been requested to mark the attendance of the students on Saksham ERP portal and keep the record of the classes taken by them in online mode.

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This move follows the Supreme Court's strong intervention earlier today, which mandated the implementation of strict Stage 4 measures under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) throughout the Delhi-NCR region. The order includes the closure of all schools, including offline classes for grades 10 and 12, in an effort to address the worsening air pollution crisis.

SC orders to set up teams to enforce GRAP 4 restrictions

The Supreme Court asked Delhi/NCR to immediately set up teams to enforce GRAP 4 restrictions which, it said, will remain in effect even if the AQI is below 450. A bench of Justices Abhay S Oka and Augustine George Masih said it is the constitutional duty of all states to ensure all citizens live in a pollution-free environment. "We direct restrictions under stage 4 of GRAP to continue even if AQI level falls below 450," the bench said.

The court asked all Delhi-NCR to immediately take a call on conducting physical classes up to class 12 and directed the setting up of a mechanism where complaints can be made for violation of restrictions under stage 4 of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP).

GSTA requests for Implementation of work-from-home for teachers

The Government School Teachers' Association (GSTA) has raised urgent concerns with the Chief Minister of Delhi regarding the increasingly dangerous air quality, which is now posing a grave risk to the health of students and teachers. In a letter sent to the CM, the association highlighted the alarming air quality index (AQI) readings across the city, which reached a hazardous range of 1,300 to 1,600 on Monday morning. This level of pollution is not just a statistic but a stark warning of the severe health crisis unfolding in the capital.

"Despite these extreme conditions, schools continue to operate physical classes for students of grades 10 and 12. However, the turnout for these classes has been alarmingly low, as parents are understandably reluctant to risk their children's health", the official notice read.

The GSTA emphasized that the air quality in Delhi has deteriorated to such an extent that it is now threatening the lives of those who are exposed to it, particularly the vulnerable student and teaching populations.