Punjab, Haryana reluctant to act against stubble burning: Supreme Court

The Supreme Court on Monday took critical note that the governments in Punjab and Haryana remained reluctant to act against farmers who resort to stubble burning in the fields, leading to a rise in air pollution. .A Bench of Justices Abhay S Oka and Augustine George Masih also asked how the stubble burning incidents had seen a rise on the day of Diwali recently."How can this happen? How come this increased in Diwali? Why are you sparing your officers? They are sparing the farmers. Farmers are filing IA [Intervention Application] before us because they are fearing things. And now you all are sparing your officers," the Court asked. .In the order, the Court said the States must explain the non-prosecution of farmers accused of stubble burning."Even as of today, we find reluctance on the part of both Governments to take action in terms of Section 14 of the Commission for Air Quality Management in National Capital Region and Adjoining Areas Act, 2021... we find that instead of initiating prosecution, the States are busy issuing show-cause notices to the officers. We are talking about the flagrant breaches of the order of the Commission passed three years back. The States owe an explanation to the Court for their inaction", it said.The Court directed strict compliance of the rules in this regard..The Bench was hearing the case concerning pollution in Delhi. It is specifically examining the action taken by authorities across Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh to curb stubble burning incidents.In October, the Court had taken a prima facie view that the Union government was not taking any penal action to curb stubble burning.It had directed the authorities to amend the law so as to increase the fines against stubble burning. Since then, the fines have been increased..The Court today questioned the States of Punjab and Haryana for lack of actions against the officials who had not properly carried out their duties to enforce the ban on stubble burning."Please see - 1,037 erring officials have been sent show cause notice. There has to be due process. Also, we have to look into present, past is gone," the counsel representing Punjab replied.However, the Court took an exception to the statement."How can the past be forgotten? Look at the past first. Only 56 officials have been prosecuted. What about else? Nothing has been done by you people on continuous stubble burning," Justice Oka said..Meanwhile, the Centre today told the Court that it had rejected Punjab government's demand for funds for tractor and other material for farmers to tackle stubble burning."Let Advocate General for Punjab respond to this," the Court said on this..No religion encourages pollution: Supreme Court on Diwali firecracker ban violation.[Read order]