Stubble Burning: High Court Seeks Punjab Govt's Response On Plea Against Alleged Cancellation Of Arms License, Red Entry In Land Record Of Farmers

The Punjab and Haryana High Court today sought response from the Punjab Government on a plea against alleged adverse action, including Red Entry in revenue record or cancellation of Arms Licence of farmers, to prevent and penalize stubble burning in Punjab.

A division bench of Chief Justice Sheel Nagu and Justice Anil Kshetarpal asked the counsel appearing for Punjab Government to seek instructions and file a response on the same.

The PIL filed by KS Raju Legal Trust refers to a newspaper item claiming that Deputy Commissioners and Police officers have warned farmers with coercive action, including red entries in the land records and cancellation of their arms license, for indulging in stubble burning.

It added that the Punjab Government, in May 2023, came up with an action plan namely 'Action Plan for Control of Burning of Paddy Crop Residue in the State of Punjab.'

"As part of action plan the Punjab Government has put prohibition on the burning of crop Residue and has also issued directions to various departments and the Directions are in the form of information, Education and commination activities Providing machineries to individual farmers and group at subsidy compensation setting up control rooms marking red ink Entries in Khasra Girdwari, recovery of Environment compensation etc," added the plea.

The petition stated that the government officials are adopting coercive steps against farmers, which also includes cancellation of their Arms License.

It further said that the action of the State is against the freedom granted to every citizen of India under Article 19(1)(g) of the Constitution, which guarantee practise of any profession or to carry on any occupation trade or business.

In light of the above, the plea sought a direction to the Punjab Government to come up with more lawful measures to tackle the issue of stubble burning in the State, rather than adopting a coercive approach.

Title: KS RAJU LEGAL TRUST v. STATE OF PUNJAB & ORS.