New Delhi/IBNS: All senior classes including standards 10 and 12 in Delhi and the National Capital Region have been shifted to online mode of classes in the wake of the rising air pollution and deteriorating Air Quality Index (AQI), a government order stated on Monday.

Besides the Delhi government, the Haryana and Uttar Pradesh governments also suspended physical classes for standards 10 and 12 in Gurugram and Ghaziabad, hours after the Supreme Court directed all states in the NCR to take an immediate call to shift to online lessons.

In a post on X, Delhi Chief Minister Atishi said: "From tomorrow physical classes shall be suspended for Class 10 and 12 as well, and all studies will be shifted online."

Taking similar steps, the University of Delhi announced that "in the larger interest of students... it has been decided that the classes shall be conducted in Online Mode till Saturday..."

In Haryana's Gurugram, the office of the deputy commissioner said "...all classes upto 12th standard will remain discontinued from 19.11.2024 till Saturday, 23.11.2024 or further orders, whichever is earlier, in all areas (urban as well as rural) of District Gurugram".

"Online classes will be conducted in lieu of physical classes, in all Government & Private Schools in the district... Strict compliance of the orders is be ensured positively," it said.

Later, the Ghaziabad district magistrate in Uttar Pradesh also followed the suit.

The government in Delhi announced the suspension of physical classes from Monday for all students, barring classes 10 and 12, in view of the board exams next year.

However, with the air quality worsening, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) announced the implementation of restrictions under Stage 4 of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP).

Pulling up the authorities, the Supreme Court on Monday asked the Commission for Air Quality Management 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 court has slammed the authorities over their delay in placing restrictions to combat the pollution.

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