The Supreme Court will on Monday hear a petition seeking a direction upon the state governments of Punjab and Haryana to ensure a complete ban on stubble burnings in their respective states.
On 16 October, SC had appointed former judge Justice Madan B. Lokur as a one-man committee for monitoring stubble burning in Haryana, Punjab and Uttar Pradesh. The SC in its order directed the Chief Secretaries of Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh and NCR of Delhi shall assist Justice Madan Lokur and enable physical surveillance of fields where stubble is likely to be burnt and devise additional means and methods for preventing the same.
The Supreme Court will hear a petition filed by a third-year law student Aman Banka and a Class XII student Aditya Dubey seeking a direction upon the state governments of Punjab and Haryana to ensure a complete ban on stubble burnings in their respective states. It sought a direction to the states to fix a ceiling on the rental of stubble removing machines during the period between September 2020 to January 2021. The states to pay to all small and marginal farmers the amount spent by them on renting the stubble removal machines, the petitioner demanded.
The ‘Right To Breathe’ Clean Air is an integral part of the Fundamental ‘Right to Life’ enshrined in Article 21 of the Constitution of India and the said fundamental right is being violated by the failure of the Union Government and the State Governments, to keep the air pollution levels in Delhi-NCR below hazardous levels every year during September to January, said the plea.
As per the Central Pollution Control Board, the stubble burning in Punjab and Haryana contributes to almost 40-50% of air pollution in Delhi, added the plea. The stubble fires in these two states are a direct result of the inability of their small farmers to purchase or rent stubble removal machines due to financial incapacity.
