National Desk
23 October
Sandeep Dhand Ludhiana
The Supreme Court will hold a hearing on October 23 regarding the stubble burning cases in Punjab and Haryana. In the previous hearing, the court ordered the Chief Secretaries of both states to appear in person and submit reports on the actions taken against stubble burners. However, there has been no clarity on whether these officials will attend.
Punjab Government Takes Action
In response to the Supreme Court’s order, the Punjab government has intensified its efforts against stubble burning. They have registered police cases against 874 individuals involved in stubble burning and imposed fines exceeding ₹10 lakh. On a single day, 71 new cases were reported, bringing the total incidents in Punjab to 1,581. Most cases came from districts such as Tarn Taran, Ferozepur, Sangrur, and Patiala.
Strict Instructions to Officials
Punjab has instructed all Deputy Commissioners, Police Commissioners, and Senior Superintendents of Police to take strict action against stubble burners by registering cases and placing red entries on their records.
Haryana’s Actions and Suspensions
Similarly, the Haryana government has registered police cases against over 600 individuals for stubble burning. Additionally, 24 officials from Haryana’s Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Department were suspended for failing to prevent these incidents. The suspended officials include agricultural inspectors and supervisors from districts like Jind, Panipat, Hisar, and Karnal.
Supreme Court’s Concern
During the October 16 hearing, the Supreme Court expressed disappointment with the insensitivity shown by both states regarding stubble burning. The court directed the Commission on Air Quality Management (CAQM) to take legal action against government officials who failed to act. The next hearing will be crucial in addressing the escalating issue of stubble burning in these states.