'Toothless' environment laws: Supreme Court slams Centre over stubble burning

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Wednesday pulled up the central government for making 'toothless' environment laws, says Commission of Air Quality Management (CAQM) Act provision on penalty for stubble burning not implemented.

The SC said that CAQM Act was enacted without creating required machinery for implementing law to curb air pollution. The Centre assured the SC that regulation on penalty under CAQM Act for stubble burning will be issued in 10 days.

The Supreme Court said that it is a fundamental right of all citizens to live in clean and pollution free environment and it is the duty of Centre and state govts to upheld the right of citizen.

CAQM, meanwhile, told the Supreme Court that there has been non-compliance of its order by Punjab and Haryana to stop stubble burning and it issued notices to various concerned officers on why penal action should not be taken against them.

The apex court expressed strong disapproval towards the Punjab and Haryana governments for not taking adequate action against individuals involved in stubble burning. The court has highlighted that, despite laws being in place, no significant prosecutions have occurred.

Addressing the chief secretary of Punjab, the Supreme Court noted that out of 1080 registered FIRs, fines have only been collected only from 473 offenders. "You are sparing 600 or more people. We will tell you very frankly that you are giving a signal to violators that nothing will be done against them. This has been (the case) for the past three years," the court stated.

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