On Wednesday, the Supreme Court criticized the governments of Punjab and Haryana for not taking effective action against stubble burning, which worsens air pollution in Delhi and nearby areas during the winter months.
The court noted a significant increase in stubble burning cases in both states and called it an "absolute defiance" of the directions given by the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM). As a result, the court summoned the Chief Secretary of Haryana to appear on October 23.
Justice AS Oka pointed out that Haryana's affidavit showed a lack of compliance and directed the CAQM to take action against state officials under Section 14. He ordered the Chief Secretary to attend the next court session to explain why they haven't taken strong action against those violating the rules.
The Supreme Court was reviewing the case regarding the failure to follow CAQM orders about stubble burning in the National Capital Region (NCR). The court also criticized the central commission for not taking action against violations, saying, "No one from Punjab and Haryana is here. None of the commission members are qualified to handle air pollution issues. There has been total non-compliance, and no one has been prosecuted yet."
When the Haryana Chief Secretary mentioned that 17 FIRs (First Information Reports) had been registered this year, Justice Oka pointed out that these cases were not filed under the right laws. He warned that the court would take contempt action if steps weren't taken within a week.
The Supreme Court had previously instructed the governments of Punjab and Haryana to submit affidavits detailing the measures taken to comply with CAQM orders. However, the court noted that Punjab has also failed to prosecute anyone for stubble burning.
Justice Oka challenged the officials, saying, "Show us one prosecution. You could have prosecuted people under Section 15 of the Environment Protection Act. There hasn’t been a single case initiated. There is no compliance at all."
Stubble burning in Punjab and Haryana is a major cause of air pollution in Delhi, particularly during the post-harvest season from October to November, causing the Air Quality Index (AQI) to reach extremely unhealthy levels.
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