Delhi Air Pollution : Supreme Court Lists Plea Against Stubble Burning In Punjab On Nov 10

Supreme Court on Friday listed a plea seeking to curb stubble burning in Punjab to reduce air pollution in Delhi on November 10, 2022. The matter was mentioned before a bench comprising CJI UU Lalit and Justice Bela M Trivedi.

At the outset, the counsel for petitioner, Advocate Shashank Shekhar Jha, submitted that the matter required urgent listing as air pollution in Delhi had increased so much that it was difficult to even walk. He submitted that the reason behind heightened AQI Levels was stubble burning in Punjab. He added–

"500 AQI has never been in Delhi. We can't walk freely in this. Parali (Stubble) burning has increased in Punjab. Secretary must be called."

While CJI Lalit agreed that the situation required an action to be taken, he expressed his doubt about whether appropriate action could be taken under a petition filed under Article 32 of the Constitution. However, the petitioner insisted that the matter pertained to Right to Life under Article 21.

The bench agreed to hear the plea and listed it on 10th November 2022.

The petition prays for the following reliefs:

1. Issuance of fresh guidelines to states of Delhi, UP, Punjab and Haryana with respect to stubble burning;

2. Formation of a panel under a retired Supreme Court judge to tackle pollution, chiefly to deal with stubble burning;

3. Direction to States to install smog-towers, plantation drive, affordable public transport and discourage the use of private vehicles;

4. Summon Chief Secretaries of the States and direct them to personally take responsibility of no case of stubble-burning anywhere and;

5. Direction to schools, colleges, government and private offices, etc to go virtual/online in order to protect the life of people at large.