"Send A Few Behind Bars": Supreme Court On Farmers Burning Stubble

Date & Time: Sep 17, 2025 03:22 pm CST
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From: India News Bull

Stubble burning in Punjab and Haryana remains a primary contributor to Delhi's air pollution crisis
New Delhi:
The Supreme Court suggested today that imprisoning some farmers for stubble burning could serve as an effective deterrent to others, as it addressed petitions concerning the severe air pollution affecting Delhi-NCR every October.
Amicus Curiae Aparajita Singh informed the bench, led by Chief Justice BR Gavai and Justice K Vinod Chandran, that despite subsidies and equipment provided to farmers to tackle stubble burning, the practice persists. "Farmers continue with the same narrative. In the past, they claimed they were instructed to burn when satellites weren't overhead. I regret to say that despite extensive Supreme Court orders since 2018, authorities merely express helplessness," she stated.
The Chief Justice questioned the lack of enforcement measures. "Placing some individuals behind bars would convey the right message. Why aren't penal provisions for agriculturists being considered? If there's genuine intent to protect the environment, why avoid such measures?"
"While farmers deserve special consideration as they provide our food... this shouldn't be exploited," the Chief Justice further remarked.
The annual toxic air crisis in Delhi during October and November is significantly attributed to stubble burning in adjacent Punjab and Haryana. Farmers burn crop residue to clear fields quickly. Alternative methods include manual clearing or specialized machinery, but farmers contend these options are financially prohibitive, resulting in continued stubble burning cases, albeit with some reduction.
Senior Advocate Rahul Mehra, representing Punjab's government, highlighted that stubble burning incidents have decreased in recent years. "Substantial progress has been made over three years. We anticipate further improvements this year."
He noted that previous arrests for stubble burning primarily affected small-scale farmers. "Arresting these farmers creates hardship for their dependents." The Chief Justice clarified, "Not as standard procedure, but to establish a precedent."
Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati, appearing for both Delhi government and the Centre, requested the court to postpone the hearing until next week after status reports are filed.