Supreme Court Criticizes Punjab and Haryana Governments for Inaction on Stubble Burning; Threatens Contempt Proceedings

The Supreme Court is taking a firm stance on stubble burning cases in Punjab and Haryana, as highlighted in Wednesday’s hearing. The court reprimanded both state governments for their lack of action and noted that no meaningful efforts have been made at the ground level to address the issue. The justices expressed concern over the.

The Supreme Court is taking a firm stance on stubble burning cases in Punjab and Haryana, as highlighted in Wednesday’s hearing. The court reprimanded both state governments for their lack of action and noted that no meaningful efforts have been made at the ground level to address the issue. The justices expressed concern over the apparent indifference shown by the governments and accused them of providing misleading information in court. They warned of potential contempt notices unless accurate details are presented.

Additionally, the court criticized the central government for its failure to establish stringent regulations to combat the stubble burning problem in Northern India and pointed out that the Environment Protection Act has become ineffective. The court previously emphasized the need to keep politics out of the issue, threatening contempt proceedings if its orders are ignored, particularly in light of the escalating air pollution in the Delhi-NCR region.

The Supreme Court raised questions about the immediate release of over 600 individuals accused of stubble burning. The justices expressed dissatisfaction with the lack of legal action taken by the governments of Punjab and Haryana against violators. They specifically addressed the Chief Secretary of Punjab, noting that while about 1,080 FIRs had been filed against offenders, only 473 had been fined, effectively signaling to violators that there would be no serious consequences for their actions—a trend that has persisted for the last three years.