Supreme Court blasts Haryana, Punjab over stubble burning: 'Isro tells you ...'

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The Supreme Court on Wednesday came down heavily on the Haryana and Punjab governments for not acting against those indulging in stubble burning and summoned the chief secretaries of both the states next week.

During a hearing on a PIL related to the air pollution crisis in Delhi-NCR, the Supreme Court asked why the Haryana government is shying away from prosecuting people involved in stubble burning, instead opting to release them with minimal fines, reported news agency ANI.

"The ISRO is telling you the location where a fire was taking place and you say that you do not find anything," the Supreme Court told the Haryana government.

The apex court noted that the affidavit filed by Haryana is full of "non-compliance".

It directed the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) to take penal action against the state officers.

The bench said that the attitude of both Punjab and Haryana is of complete defiance.

"This is not a political matter. If Chief Secretary is acting at somebody's behest, we will issue summons against them as well. Nothing has been done, same is with Punjab. The attitude is of complete defiance," the bench said.

It also ordered the chief secretaries of Haryana and Punjab to be physically present next Wednesday and explain why no stringent action was taken against the violators and government officials.

Earlier, the Supreme Court had rapped the CAQM over its failure to curb air pollution in Delhi due to crop residue burning in the neighbouring states and said it needs to be more active in its approach.

Expressing dissatisfaction over steps taken by the panel to control pollution, a bench of Justice Abha S Oka and Justice Augustine George Masih said CAQM needs to exercise its power under the Commission for Air Quality Management in National Capital Region and Adjoining Areas Act, 2021.