Supreme Court Scolds the Government Over Stubble Burning: 'Environmental Laws Are Weak'

On Wednesday, the Supreme Court strongly criticized the Centre and the state governments of Punjab and Haryana for not doing enough to stop stubble burning, which is making North India’s air pollution worse. The court said the Environment Protection Act has become “toothless,” meaning it’s not doing its job of protecting the environment.

What's the Issue?

Stubble burning is when farmers set fire to leftover crops to prepare for the next planting season. This practice causes a lot of smoke, making the air unhealthy to breathe, especially in cities like Delhi. The court said that if the government really cared about stopping this, they would have taken stronger action by now.

Lack of Action

The Supreme Court was frustrated that there haven’t been enough strict punishments for stubble burning. Out of 1,080 violations, only 473 people have been fined, and even those fines were very small. The court warned that this sends a message that people can break the law without facing serious consequences.

Punjab Government in Trouble

Justice Abhay S. Oka was especially upset with the chief secretary of Punjab. The court found out that Punjab’s government had given a false statement about asking for money from the Central government to help farmers buy tractors and diesel, which would have helped them avoid stubble burning. Justice Oka demanded an explanation, saying they wouldn’t let this issue slide and even hinted at the possibility of contempt of court charges.

What About Haryana?

The court also reviewed the steps Haryana has taken to tackle stubble burning. The Haryana chief secretary said that over 5,000 officers are keeping an eye on the situation, and they’ve seen fewer burning incidents. But the court wasn’t satisfied, pointing out that out of 400 stubble burning cases, only 32 people had been charged. The justices said this was an example of “selective enforcement,” meaning they aren’t being fair in applying the law.

The court urged both the Punjab and Haryana governments to do a better job of controlling stubble burning, as the pollution continues to affect the national capital and other parts of North India.

Sources: Internet Sources & Twitter X 

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