New Delhi: The Supreme Court reprimanded the Haryana and Punjab governments on Wednesday for failing to prosecute offenders found guilty of stubble burning, summoning the state chief secretaries to come before it on October 23 and provide an explanation.
A bench of Justices Abhay S Oka, Ahsanuddin Amanullah, and Augustine George Masih asked the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) to penalise Haryana and Punjab government officials for failing to take action against violators, PTI reported.
"This is not a political matter. If chief secretary is acting at somebody's behest, we will issue summons against them as well. Next Wednesday we are going to physically call chief secretary and explain everything. Nothing has been done, same is with Punjab government. The attitude is of complete defiance," the bench said.
Slamming the Punjab government, the top court said not even a single prosecution has been carried out in past three years.
It said no endeavour has been made by the Punjab government to seek funds from the Centre for ensuring tractors to farmers.
The top court said CAQM has become a toothless tiger.
The apex court had earlier rapped CAQM over its failure to curb air pollution in Delhi due to crop residue burning in the neighbouring states and said it needs to be more active in its approach.