New Delhi – The Supreme Court on Wednesday made a strong observation on the issue of stubble burning, suggesting that “jailing some people will send the correct message.” Chief Justice of India B.R. Gavai made the remarks while hearing a case related to air pollution in the Delhi-NCR region.
During the hearing, an amicus curiae, Aparajita Singh, presented arguments on the failure to curb stubble burning, a major contributor to air pollution every winter. In response, CJI Gavai addressed senior advocate Rahul Mehra, who was representing the State of Punjab, stating, “Why don’t you think of some penalty provisions for the agriculturists… if you have a real intention of protecting the environment then why shy away?”
While acknowledging that farmers are vital for the country’s food security, the court stressed that their contribution does not exempt them from environmental responsibility. The CJI also noted that he had read reports about using stubble to produce biofuels, suggesting that alternative solutions exist.
The bench, which also includes Justice K. Vinod Chandran, has been actively hearing this matter and previously questioned why the blanket ban on firecrackers was limited to the Delhi-NCR region. The CJI had remarked that if Delhi residents have a right to pollution-free air, so do citizens in other cities, and that a uniform policy on air pollution must be implemented across the country.
In addition to its strong words on stubble burning, the Supreme Court has also directed the Central Pollution Control Board and the Commission for Air Quality Management to fill all vacant posts within three months. The court also ordered the states of Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Rajasthan, and Punjab to do the same for their respective pollution boards within the same timeframe, pulling them up for the long-standing vacancies.