Delhi Air Pollution Season Is Back: Supreme Court Asks Punjab And Haryana To File Affidavits On Stubble Burning Issue

The Supreme Court on Thursday (3 October) noted that from 15 to 30 September 129 cases of illegal stubble burning were reported from Punjab and 81 from Haryana, Live Law reported.

"In some of the districts in Punjab and Haryana, the incidents of stubble burning increased substantially as compared to 2023. However, all the States have done is to recover nominal compensation," the court noted.

It directed the state governments of Haryana and Punjab to file affidavits disclosing implementation made by them of the directions issued by the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) on 10 June 2021.

The matter will now be heard on 16 October where the central government and the commission will have to make a statement about the experts of the full-time independent technical members appointed.

The court asserted that if it finds that two experts in the field of air pollution are not part of the commission, then it will exercise powers under Article 142 of the Constitution to appoint some experts as members.

"We also direct the commission to ensure that prompt steps are to be taken to implement its own orders by the state government and all other stakeholders and have grievance redressal mechanisms," the court added.