The Supreme Court on Thursday took note of India Today’s special investigation report which stated that farmers in Punjab are being told by government officials not to burn stubble during specific hours to evade detention by satellites.
After the report was mentioned by the lawyers appearing in the case, the top court took note of the same, recording it in its order and remarked that if the report is correct, “it is very serious”.
The court noted that officials cannot permit farmers to burn stubble, and instructed the Punjab government to issue immediate instructions to prevent such practices.
During the hearing, Advocate Manali Singhal, appearing for the petitioner, informed a bench led by Justice Abhay Oka that India Today TV has conducted a sting operation covering the stubble burning menace in Delhi’s neighbouring states.
Senior Advocate Aparajita Singh submitted in the news report, officials have confirmed that the state has asked them to burn stubble after 4 pm. Advocate Manali added that the news report has interviews with people who claim they have been told to do it.
The top court on Thursday directed that the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) IV measures will continue in the national capital, and decided to consider on Monday if the restrictions need to be relaxed.
Taking note of the second report submitted by the court appointed commissioners, the Supreme Court said that the report states an abject failure of authorities to implement GRAP-IV in letter and spirit.
“We expect the states to make a statement before us on what action they propose to take regarding breaches specifically pointed out by the court commissioners,” the top court observed.
The top court also noted that the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has issued show cause notices to senior officials and directed that action needed to be expedited. The court, however, questioned the commission why no action has been taken till now, despite the report clearly showing violation of all GRAP-IV rules.
The bench also asked the Delhi government to initiate action against erring officials as shown in the court commissioners’ report.
The court came down heavily on CAQM for a clarification issued by it regarding GRAP restrictions, saying that the same can create confusion, asking the commission to withdraw the same.
“They are saying other activities permitted under GRAP Stage 3 will be permitted. How can you say this? This would be overreaching orders of the court. If you issue such directions, everyone on the ground will be misled. This should be withdrawn as it may create confusion. What was the necessity of publishing this?” the court asked.
The bench also asked Delhi-NCR states to file a response regarding the ban on fine crackers and will hear the same on Monday.
It has also said that it will consider the issue of pollution in other cities as well, asking counsel for a list of other polluted cities with the relevant data.
“We must remember that there is India outside NCR states. There’s pollution in other cities also. We should not send wrong messages that the judges sitting in the Supreme Court are only concerned about Delhi,” the bench asserted.
INDIA TODAY INVESTIGATION ON FARM FIRE
The India Today probe showed that a land records officer and president of the Sangrur Block Patwari Union, openly admits to advising farmers to burn stubble after 4 PM to avoid satellite detection. “Satellites don’t capture fires after 4 PM,” he explained, emphasising how the system is being gamed.
Despite Supreme Court directives and strict enforcement measures, stubble burning remains a deeply entrenched practice in Punjab.
Farmers, strapped for time and resources, find burning to be the simplest solution, while government officials, caught between directives and ground realities, look the other way or actively help evade detection.
