GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 17th Sept: The Supreme Court today indicated that jailing farmers who burn stubble could deter others and help curb Delhi-NCR’s annual smog crisis. Hearing petitions on rising air pollution, a bench led by Chief Justice of India BR Gavai asked why authorities avoid strict penalties despite repeated court orders since 2018.
Amicus Curiae Aparajita Singh informed the court that farmers receive subsidies and equipment to manage crop residue, yet burning continues. “Farmers say they burn when satellites cannot detect it. They keep pleading helplessness,” she noted.
“If some people are behind bars, it will send the correct message,” Chief Justice Gavai observed. “Farmers are special, we eat because of them, but that does not mean we cannot protect the environment.”
Stubble burning in Punjab and Haryana remains a key cause of Delhi’s October–November pollution spikes. Farmers contend that manual clearing or machine use is too costly, though reported cases have slightly declined.
