On Wednesday, the Supreme Court came down heavily on the Punjab and Haryana Governments for their inaction on the issue of stubble burning.
Apex Court Bench comprising of Justice Abhay S Oka, Justice Ahsanuddin Amanullah and Justice Augustine George Masih directed the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) to take penal action against Haryana and Punjab government officials for failure to take action against the violators.
SC Bench stated,”This is not a political matter. If the chief secretary is acting at somebody’s behest, we will issue summons against them as well. Next Wednesday, we are going to physically call the chief secretary and explain everything. Nothing has been done; the same is with the Punjab government. The attitude is of complete defiance.”
Supreme Court has summoned Haryana’s Chief Secretary to appear before Apex Court on October 23. SC Bench court has directed Punjab’s chief secretary to remain present before it on October 23 and submit an explanation for non-compliance.
Justice AS Oka, while addressing the compliance issues noted in an affidavit submitted by Haryana, that, “We see that the affidavit by Haryana is full of non-compliance. We direct the Commission to take penal action against State Officers under Section 14.”