Grap 4 to stay till Monday: SC

The court told CAQM to consider imposing a combination of curbs from Stages 3 and 4, rather than a complete withdrawal

- Abraham Thomas

The Supreme Court on Thursday directed that emergency air pollution measures under Stage 4 of the Graded Response Action Plan (Grap) remain in effect in Delhi until at least Monday, even as it ordered the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) to act against the "abject failure" of police, state, and civic authorities in implementing these measures effectively since November 18.

A bench led by Justice Abhay S Oka posted the matter for further consideration on December 2, instructing CAQM to propose scaling down restrictions under Grap Stage 4 to a combination of curbs from Stages 3 and 4, rather than a blanket withdrawal.

"All Grap 4 measures, except those modified in respect of schools, will operate till Monday. Meanwhile CAQM will hold a meeting to come up with suggestions to move from Grap 4 to Grap 3 or 2. We make it clear that it is not necessary that all measures in Grap 4 be dispensed with. There can be a combination of Grap 3 and 4 measures," the bench said.