Top Court Cracks The Whip

SC steps in for big clean-up, summons top officials, says tough action will follow if situation does not improve

- Aneesha Mathur

With Delhi’s AQI levels reaching past hazardous levels this weekend, the Supreme Court took a serious view of the lapses in controlling the ongoing crop stubble burning in Punjab and Haryana, which is seen as a major contributor to Delhi’s pollution woes.

“We are asking all states to ensure that no more fires are set off. In case any further violation is seen we will settle liability from bottom to the top,” said the bench of justices Arun Mishra and Deepak Gupta on Monday. “No civilized country can live like this. We are too liberal,” commented the bench, which has now indicated that it could make the gram panchayat officials and the SHOs of the local police stations personally liable for the pollution damage caused by stubble burning