(Image source from: PTI)

The Supreme Court criticized the Centre for weakening the Environmental Protection Act through amendments, rendering it ineffective in addressing the issue of stubble burning in neighboring states, which is contributing to pollution in Delhi. The court stated that the Act has become toothless, as the Centre has removed punishments and replaced them with penalties. The Additional Solicitor General assured the court that rules would be finalized within 10 days, and the Act would be made fully operational. The court expressed skepticism, suggesting that the governments and the Centre were not genuinely committed to safeguarding the environment, and that the changes were politically motivated.

The national capital's air quality was categorized as "very poor" on Wednesday, with several areas considered to be in the "severe" zone. The Supreme Court criticized Punjab and Haryana for their ineffective efforts to address the issue of crop residue burning, which is a major contributor to the pollution crisis in Delhi during the winter season. The court dismissed the states' measures as mere lip service, noting that not a single person had been prosecuted for violating the ban on stubble burning. The court expressed strong dissatisfaction with the chief secretary of Punjab for providing false information to the Advocate General about requesting funds from the Central Government to support farmers. The court warned that it would initiate contempt proceedings if the state fails to take appropriate action moving forward.