Read Time: 04 minutes
Today, the Court was surprised to note that CAQM has never taken penal action under the CAQM Act against those who indulge in stubble-burning contravening its directions
The Supreme Court today pulled up the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) for not performing its task to control up to the court's directions issued earlier.
"Commission needs to be more active and must ensure that its efforts and directions actually translate into reducing the problem of pollution..", a bench of Justices AS Oka and AG Masih said today.
Court has accordingly directed the Commission to file a status report indicating details of the sub-committee meetings and decisions issued thereunder. "It must ensure that the equipment to avoid stubble burning are actually used by the farmers. This apart from certain other methods suggested by Commission that must place on records details of meetings held and decisions taken therein.", court has further directed.
Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati appeared for CAQM. Top Court opined that though Commission has taken certain steps, it needs to be more active and must ensure that its efforts and directions actually translate into reducing the problem of pollution.
"Efforts needs to be taken to make sure that use of stubble burning alternative equipments are used at grassroots level. There are hardly directions issued under the Act and no action has been taken after finding that directions have been violated under Section 14...", the bench further observed today.
In November last year, Supreme Court had pulled up the governments of Punjab, Rajasthan, Haryana, and UP, asking them to immediately stop stubble burning.
In reference to the worsening of the condition in Delhi NCR, the Supreme Court had remarked that a huge number of taxis were found on Delhi roads, with only one passenger onboard.
Supreme Court had also refused to interfere with the blanket ban imposed by it on production and sale of firecrackers including green crackers in the Delhi NCR region. Court had further told the Delhi Police that filing cases against people who burn firecrackers may not help in curbing sale of firecrackers.
Case Title: MC Mehta vs. Union of India & Ors
Please Login or Register
