The Supreme Court on Monday refused to relax the anti-pollution Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP)-IV restrictions in Delhi-NCR and said unless it was satisfied that there was consistent decrease in AQI levels, it cannot order curbs below GRAP-III or GRAP-II.

Noting that several sections of society, especially labourers and daily wagers, were adversely affected due to GRAP-IV, the bench directed the state governments, where construction has been banned, to use funds collected as labour cess for subsistence to them. The top court, however, asked the Commission for Air Quality Management to consider restarting physical classes.