New Delhi/IBNS: Pulling up the authorities, the Supreme Court on Monday asked the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) to not drop the current restrictions, which have been imposed in the national capital Delhi to combat air pollution that has left the residents gasping, media reports said.

The top court said as quoted by NDTV, "We are making it very clear that you will not go below Stage 4 without our permission now even if AQI goes below 300, that is the order we are proposing."

The court has slammed the authorities over their delay in placing restrictions to combat the pollution.

The Delhi-National Capital Region (NCR) experienced the worst Air Quality Index (AQI), which  plummeted to the 'severe-plus' category on Monday morning.

The AQI recorded 481 at 7 am. The visibility had reduced to 150 metres at 5 am.

The flight and train services have been affected by the air quality, which has tumbled due to pollution at the onset of the winter season.

The Stage-4 of the anti-pollution plan GRAP was implemented by the Centre at 8 am.

Under the Stage 4 of GRAP, no trucks barring the ones using clean fuel or the ones carrying essential items will be allowed inside the national capital.

Light commercial vehicles carrying non-essential items will be barred from entering Delhi.

All kinds of construction works will remain suspended.
Barring the ones carrying essential items, BS-IV vehicles or the ones using older fuels will be barred in the national capital.

Delhi Chief Minister Atishi has announced all school classes will be held online except for students of Classes 10 and 12.

The Chief Minister wrote on X, "With the imposition of GRAP-4 from tmrw, physical classes shall be discontinued for all students, apart from Class 10 and 12. All schools will hold online classes, until further orders."

All kinds of construction works will remain suspended.