National/Punjab/Haryana Desk
23 October
Sandeep Dhand Ludhiana
The Supreme Court bench has sharply criticized the governments of Punjab and Haryana for failing to enforce court orders regarding stubble burning. The bench emphasized that the right to live in a pollution-free environment is a fundamental right under Article 21 of the Constitution. It noted that the failure to implement existing laws has resulted in a significant violation of this right.
The court pointed out that there have been over 1,000 stubble burning cases in Punjab and more than 400 in Haryana this year. In Punjab, out of 1,084 cases, fines were collected from only 473 people. Similarly, in Haryana, FIRs were filed in only 32 of 419 cases, and fines were imposed in 320 cases. The bench criticized the selective enforcement of laws in these states.
Additionally, the court expressed dissatisfaction with the Air Quality Management Commission for merely issuing show-cause notices to Punjab and Haryana officials instead of taking stricter action. The court reminded the central and state governments that protecting citizens from pollution is a fundamental responsibility.
The bench stressed that immediate and unbiased action is required to address the serious issue of stubble burning, which contributes significantly to air pollution.