Essential services, hospitals, utilities and pollution-control teams are exempt, while district authorities have been directed to ensure strict compliance, with penalties applicable for violations.
The Delhi government on Thursday directed all government and private offices in the Capital to operate at no more than 50% staff strength, with the remaining employees required to work from home, as part of emergency curbs under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) Stage III.
The directive comes amid a sustained deterioration in Delhi’s air quality, with pollution levels — especially PM2.5 and PM10 — breaching prescribed standards during peak winter months. Delhi has been notified as an air pollution control area since 1987, and authorities have invoked successive stages of GRAP since mid-October following directions from the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM).
50% CAP FOR GOVT AND PRIVATE OFFICES
The order was issued by the Department of Environment & Forests under Section 5 of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986. As per the order, all GNCTD government offices must ensure that not more than half their staff is physically present. Administrative Secretaries and Heads of Departments may summon additional personnel only when essential to maintain emergency and public services.
Private offices across Delhi must also cap attendance at 50%, with the rest of the workforce mandatorily working from home. They have additionally been instructed to introduce staggered work hours, enforce strict work-from-home systems, and minimise vehicular movement linked to office commutes — a major contributor to emissions during severe pollution episodes.
SUPREME COURT-DRIVEN GRAP AMENDMENTS
The fresh curbs follow CAQM’s amendments to the GRAP schedule after Supreme Court hearings on November 17 and 19 in the MC Mehta air pollution case, followed by stakeholder consultations on November 20. As part of the revised framework, a measure earlier listed under GRAP Stage IV, allowing offices to operate at half strength, has now been shifted to Stage III for quicker intervention.
LG CLEARS STAGGERED TIMINGS FOR GOVT OFFICES
The move comes days after Delhi LG VK Saxena approved staggered office timings for GNCTD and Municipal Corporation of Delhi establishments, aimed at reducing peak-hour congestion and traffic emissions. Authorities have said vehicular pollution remains a major concern during high-pollution periods.
ESSENTIAL SERVICES EXEMPT
Hospitals, health establishments, fire services, prisons, public transport departments, electricity and water utilities, sanitation bodies, disaster management units, and agencies involved in pollution control or enforcement have been exempted from the 50% cap.
STRICT ENFORCEMENT AND PENALTIES
The order is effective immediately and will remain in force for the entire duration of GRAP Stage III. District Magistrates, Deputy Commissioners of Police, and local bodies have been asked to ensure compliance across all private and government offices.
Violations will attract penalties under Sections 15 and 16 of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, in addition to other applicable laws.
