SC Raps Punjab, Haryana Govt. On Stubble Burning; Summons Chief Secretaries

The Supreme Court on Wednesday has expressed strong discontent with the Haryana and Punjab governments regarding their inaction against those guilty of stubble burning.

The court has summoned the chief secretaries of both states to appear on October 23 and provide explanations for their lack of prosecution.

A bench comprising Justices Abhay S. Oka, Ahsanuddin Amanullah, and Augustine George Masih criticized the Commission for Air Quality Management for failing to hold state officials accountable.

The justices stated that punitive measures must be enforced against Haryana and Punjab government officials due to their inaction against violators.

The bench remarked, “This is not a political matter. If the chief secretary is acting at somebody’s behest, we will issue summons against them as well. Next Wednesday, we are going to physically call the chief secretary and explain everything. Nothing has been done; the same is true for the Punjab government. The attitude is one of complete defiance.”

The court particularly reprimanded the Punjab government, highlighting that not a single prosecution related to stubble burning has occurred in the past three years. It further noted that the Punjab administration has not made any efforts to secure funding from the Centre to provide tractors to farmers, a crucial step in managing crop residue effectively.

The Supreme Court emphasized that the CAQM has become ineffective, describing it as a “toothless tiger.”

In previous hearings, the apex court had criticized the commission for its failure to address air pollution in Delhi, which is exacerbated by crop residue burning in neighboring states. The court underscored the urgent need for CAQM to adopt a more proactive stance in tackling this pressing environmental issue.

The court’s comments reflect a growing frustration with the ongoing problem of air pollution linked to agricultural practices. Stubble burning, a common practice among farmers, significantly contributes to air quality deterioration, particularly in northern India during the harvest season.

The Supreme Court’s decision to summon the chief secretaries is a call to action for the state governments, urging them to take serious measures to enforce regulations and support farmers in adopting sustainable practices.

As the situation develops, the attention now turns to the chief secretaries of Haryana and Punjab, who are expected to provide detailed explanations for their inaction and outline future plans to address stubble burning and its environmental consequences.

The outcome of this hearing could set a precedent for how agricultural practices are regulated in relation to air quality management in the region.