Delhi HC Issues Notice In Plea Seeking Stern Measures To Prevent Stubble Burning In Punjab, Haryana And UP In Light of COVID19

The Division Bench of Chief Justice DN Patel and Justice Prateek Jalan has issued notices to the Union Health Ministry, as well as to the States of Punjab, Haryana and UP.

The present application has been moved in a pending PIL titled Sudhir Mishra v. Union of India, seeking a direction to be issued to all the Respondents to use all measures to immediately stop the farmers from further burning the farmlands in the above-mentioned States in light of COVID19 pandemic.

The application has also demanded a team of experts to be sent to these States to ensure effective implementation of measures taken to prevent stubble burning.

It is the case of the applicant that stubble burning may make the residents of the national capital more susceptible to the coronavirus.

The applicant has further argued that since air is a public good, the coordination by the central government becomes even more pertinent.

It is further contended by the applicant that the experts have shown concerns with rising air pollution in Delhi with the simultaneous increase in the number of cases.