[Delhi Pollution] It has become a fashion to bash farmers; I am a farmer: SC judge Justice Surya Kant

It has become a fashion to fault farmers in recent times, Supreme Court judge Justice Surya Kant remarked on Saturday while hearing the case relating to rising pollution levels in Delhi (Aditya Dubey v. Union of India)..Justice Surya Kant, who is himself from a farming family, was sitting as part of special bench headed by Chief Justice of India NV Ramana and also comprising Justice DY Chandrachud when the aspect of stubble burning by farmers as a reason for air pollution came up.The remarks were made in the context of crop stubble burning by farmers from Punjab, Haryana and UP leading to spike in pollution levels in Delhi."Now it has become a fashion to bash the farmers whether its Delhi govt or someone else," he said.Justice Kant also demanded whether other measures like firecracker ban and vehicular emission control were implemented."There was ban on firecrackers, what happened with that? Its an emergency situation. Is there any prohibition on vehicles or emission control," he asked.The remarks were made after Senior Counsel Rahul Mehra told the Court about spike in pollution levels after stubble burning started."AQI was 84 on Sept 30 and now it has become 474 and PM 10 has increased by 500 points and PM 7 has increased by 390 Points..probably its the stubble burning and solution lies in a cost effective mechanism (to get rid of stubble instead burning)," Mehra said prompting questions from Justice Kant. "I am a farmer, The CJI is also from a farmer family, we know it," Justice Surya Kant said during the hearing.Justice Kant was also asked Solicitor General (SG)Tushar Mehta, who was representing the Central government, about other factors which contributing to drop in air quality index. SG Mehta told the Court that an emergency meeting of the Chief Secretaries of the concerned States has been called for today to address the situation.He further submitted that the meeting will discuss emergent measures to be taken to bring down the pollution levels."Why don't you ask Punjab, Haryana Chief Secretaries to cease stubble burning for a few days," the CJI asked."The chief secretaries are meeting today. Colour of political parties does not matter. It is a joint responsibility.. but implementation has to be at state level," SG responded.The matter was then adjourned for Monday, October 15 when the SG is expected to get back to the Court with the outcome of the meeting and emergent measures which would be implemented to contain the rising pollution.Read a detailed story on the hearing here..[Read live account of hearing below]