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The Top Court in its order today, directed the petitioners to examine the ordinance submitted by the Union with regard to controlling pollution caused by stubble burning.

Supreme Court Bench of Chief Justice SA Bobde, Justice AS Bopanna and Justice V Ramasubramanian, while hearing a plea on deterioration of air quality due to stubble burning.

Sr Adv Vikas Singh: They have thrown the ordinance in the Court twice. We want to know what are they doing for stubble burning.

CJI: Have you examined the ordinance?

Sr Adv Vikas Singh: No, this we have received today.

CJI: You examine the ordinance, we will keep it next week.

Earlier it was informed by the Learned Senior Council Mr. Vikas Singh that despite several measures already in place, there is a continuous increase in the amount of air pollution in the NCT of Delhi. It was also suggested to appoint a former Judge of the Top Court to monitor the situation in the neighbouring States of Punjab, Haryana, UP including the NCR of Delhi.

Justice Madan B. Lokur, retired Supreme Court Judge, was accordingly appointed as a one man monitoring committee to look into the steps taken by the States to prevent stubble burning.

The Court vide order dated 16.10.2020, directed that the Chief Secretaries of the States of Punjab, Haryana, 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 further devise additional means for preventing the burning of stubble.

“We find that it would be fitting, if services of National Cadet Corps, NSS and Bharat Scouts and Guides, wherever available, are deployed for assisting in the monitoring of stubble burning in the agricultural fields in these States”, the bench added.

Environment Pollution (Prevention and Control) Authority was also directed to provide assistance and provide information as and when sought by the Committee.

The bench clarified that institution of the said Committee is in addition to the mechanism already in place and the object of it is to facilitate and coordinate the activities of different authorities so the problem is resolved at the earliest.

By order dated 26.10.2020, it was informed by the Learned Solicitor General that the Union had proposed a legislation to tackle the problem highlighted in the PIL and that it will be placed before the Court within three to four days.

Case Title: Aditya Dubey v. Union of India, WP(C) 1135 of 2020.