Air pollution: Delhi schools to remain shut for physical classes till further orders
New Delhi(PTI): Schools in Delhi will remain closed for physical classes till further orders while online classes and board exams will continue, the Directorate of Education (DoE) announced on Sunday in view of the prevailing air quality situation.
The air quality remained very poor on Sunday morning, authorities here said. The city recorded its air quality index (AQI) at 382 at 9 am. The 24-hour average AQI was 374 on Saturday.
"The environment department has directed to close all the schools with immediate effect till further orders of the Commission for Air Quality Management in NCR and adjoining areas. Therefore, all government and private schools will remain closed till further orders," Additional Director of Education Rita Sharma said.
"However, online teaching learning activities and the examinations for board classes would be conducted as per guidelines issued earlier," the official said.
The Delhi government had on November 13 announced closure of schools and other educational institutions in view of the deteriorating air quality in Delhi.
Schools had reopened for all classes from November 1, after nearly 19 months of closure due to COVID-19.
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Congress terms NHRC chief selection process as “fundamentally flawed”
New Delhi: The Congress party has criticised the process for selecting the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) chairperson, describing it as “fundamentally flawed.” The dissenting remarks came a day after President Droupadi Murmu appointed Justice V. Ramasubramanian, a former Supreme Court judge, as the NHRC chairperson.
Leaders of the Opposition in both Houses of Parliament, Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge, expressed discontent with the selection process. They claimed the committee meeting, held on Wednesday, was a “predetermined exercise” that disregarded the tradition of mutual consultation and consensus.
In their dissent note, they highlighted the importance of fairness and impartiality in the selection process, particularly for a statutory body like the NHRC, which is responsible for safeguarding the human rights of all citizens, especially marginalised groups.
Gandhi and Kharge recommended the names of Justices (Retd.) Rohinton Fali Nariman and K.M. Joseph, citing their judicial expertise and commitment to constitutional values. They also proposed Justices (Retd.) S. Muralidhar and Akil Kureshi for NHRC membership, noting their contributions to advancing social justice and civil liberties. The opposition emphasised the need for inclusivity and merit in such appointments.
Justice Ramasubramanian’s appointment comes after the post remained vacant since June 1, following the end of Justice (Retd.) Arun Kumar Mishra’s tenure. Vijaya Bharathi Sayani, a former advocate of the Telangana High Court, had been serving as acting chairperson.
Congress leader Manickam Tagore also supported the dissent, stating on social media that the process undermined the principles of fairness and accountability.
