'Don't force us', Supreme Court furious over rising pollution in Delhi-NCR, scolded Haryana-Punjab

On Wednesday (23 October 2024), the Supreme Court heard the case of rising pollution in Delhi-NCR. During this, the court reprimanded CAQM for issuing notice to the officials who failed to stop stubble burning instead of taking direct action against them.

During the hearing, the court also reprimanded the Advocate General and Chief Secretary of Punjab. Justice Abhay Oka said, "Advocate General, tell us on whose advice you gave a false statement of seeking funds from the Center for Tractors and Machines. We will immediately issue a notice of contempt to that officer. Chief Secretary, tell us which officer had instructed the Advocate General."

The judge also got angry at lawyer Abhishek Manu Singhvi.

As soon as senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, appearing for Punjab, tried to say something, the judge got angry. He said, do not force us to say anything. The seriousness of the state government is visible. Earlier, the Advocate General said that no case was registered against anyone. Now you are saying that 5 cases have been registered this year. Only 5? Is this possible? The court showed the previous affidavit of the Punjab government, in which it was written that no case was going on against anyone.

The judge took a dig at the argument of Singhvi.

After listening to the judge, Singhvi said I am seeing... the Chief Secretary also agrees that this is written. On this, the court said that your affidavit does not even tell when the monitoring committee was formed at the village level when the nodal officer was appointed. When did the government pass this order? If this committee was formed, then what has it done till now? On the judge's question, Singhvi said, there are about 9000 people. We will file an affidavit giving full details. Hearing this, Justice Amanullah said that 9000 people together found only 9 incidents. Wow!

Details sought on recent incidents of stubble burning.

Justice Oka said during the hearing that ISRO gives reports from the satellite. You deny that too. CAQM lawyer Aishwarya Bhati said that more than 400 incidents have taken place in Amritsar. The judge said, tell us how many incidents have taken place recently? In response to this question, Singhvi said that 1510 incidents of stubble burning have taken place, out of which FIR has been registered in 1080. Hearing this, the judge said, that means you have left out about 400? Singhvi said that some reports were wrong.