SC Slams Punjab and Haryana Governments Over Stubble Burning Non-Compliance
On Wednesday, the Supreme Court reprimanded the Haryana and Punjab governments for their inaction against stubble burning offenders. The court ordered state chief secretaries to appear before it on October 23 to explain their failures. Justices Abhay S. Oka, Ahsanuddin Amanullah, and Augustine George Masih formed the panel overseeing the case.
The court directed the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) to penalize government officials from both states for their lack of action. The justices emphasized that this issue is not political. They warned that if the chief secretary is acting on behalf of someone else, they would issue summons to that individual as well. The court noted that nothing substantial has been done, stating, “The attitude is one of complete defiance.”
The Supreme Court specifically criticized the Punjab administration, highlighting that no prosecutions had occurred in the last three years. Furthermore, the court pointed out that Punjab has not sought funding from the Central government to help farmers purchase tractors.
Moreover, the court described the CAQM as a “toothless tiger,” expressing frustration over its inability to effectively combat air pollution in Delhi. The Supreme Court had previously admonished the CAQM for its failure to address pollution stemming from crop residue burning in neighboring states. The justices insisted that the CAQM must adopt a more proactive approach moving forward.
Overall, the Supreme Court’s strong stance underscores the urgency of addressing the stubble burning crisis and holding the responsible parties accountable for their inaction.
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