SC summons Chief Secretaries of Punjab, Haryana in stubble burning case

New Delhi: The Supreme Court has summoned the Chief Secretaries of Punjab and Haryana to appear on October 23 over their failure to curb stubble burning.

The court criticised both state governments for not prosecuting violators, leading to worsening air pollution.

A bench comprising Justices Abhay S Oka, Ahsanuddin Amanullah, and Augustine George Masih also directed the Air Quality Management Commission (CAQM) to take punitive action against state officials for their inaction.

“This is not a political issue,” the bench stated, warning that the chief secretaries could face further action if they fail to comply.

The court expressed frustration with the Punjab government, pointing out that no trials had been conducted in the last three years and criticised the lack of effort to secure central funds for farmers to access equipment like tractors to prevent stubble burning.

The court called the CAQM a “toothless leopard” for its inability to address the issue effectively, urging the commission to adopt a more proactive approach in tackling air pollution caused by crop residue burning in neighbouring states.