'This can't be a political battle all the time'

In a strongly-worded criticism of the blame game between the Punjab and Delhi governments over crop burning and air pollution, Justice S K Kaul pulled up the Punjab government's counsel Gurminder Singh. "I happened to travel through Punjab over the weekend and widespread fires on both sides of the road. Where is the reduction [in burning stubble]? The only difference is... suddenly you have sought to shift the blame on other states. It's obvious why. But this can't be a political battle all the time," said Justice Kaul. "We are no saying that stubble burning is the only contributor but it is a significant factor," he added.

'Delhi can’t be made to go through this year after year'

While listening to senior advocate Aparajita Singh, who is the amicus curiae in the matter, detail the issue, Justice Kaul asked Singh to cut to the chase, asking, "What is the solution? Delhi can’t be made to go through this." He reminded the counsels that a number of children in Delhi are facing health issues due to the persistent pollution.

'We don't know how you do it, it’s your job'

When Punjab Advocate General Gurminder Singh tried to point out that this particular problem occurs only around 20-50 days every year, Justice Kaul asked the state to stop the issue by "forceful actions and sometimes by incentives." It is the peculiar problem of timing...but there is no seriousness I feel, Justice Kaul said, as per the legal website Live Law. "... we want it (stubble burning) stopped. We don't know how you do it, it’s your job. But it must be stopped. Something has to be done immediately," he added.

'What are you doing for vehicles coming to Delhi?'

Justice Kaul also grilled the Delhi government on its role in tackling the issue, asking, "What are you doing for vehicles coming to Delhi?" The judge also said that while crop burning is a major issue, the traffic situation in the Delhi-NCR region is also a contributor to the pollution.

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This is an archive article published on November 7, 2023

‘Delhi can’t be made to go through this’, can’t be a ‘political battle’ everytime: Top quotes from SC hearing on air pollution in the Delhi-NCR

The two-judge bench, comprising Justices Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Sudhanshu Dhulia, said that Delhi cannot be made to go through this hazardous period annually.

Delhi Air pollution crisis: The air pollution case, which has been pending in the top court, has been heard by different benches from time to time. (Representational image via Canva)

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The Supreme Court Tuesday criticised the governments of Delhi and Punjab for failing to tackle the worsening air quality in the Delhi-NCR region, adding that the issue cannot be a “political battle” at all times.

The court was hearing a matter pertaining to air pollution in the Delhi-NCR. The two-judge bench, comprising Justices Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Sudhanshu Dhulia, said that Delhi cannot be made to go through this hazardous period annually and flagged issues like crop residue burning, vehicular pollution and burning of waste in the open. Pollution levels in Delhi were recorded in the “very poor” category on Tuesday morning after five consecutive days of severe air quality.

Here are the top quotes from the hearing:

01
'This can't be a political battle all the time'
In a strongly-worded criticism of the blame game between the Punjab and Delhi governments over crop burning and air pollution, Justice S K Kaul pulled up the Punjab government's counsel Gurminder Singh.

"I happened to travel through Punjab over the weekend and widespread fires on both sides of the road. Where is the reduction [in burning stubble]? The only difference is... suddenly you have sought to shift the blame on other states. It's obvious why. But this can't be a political battle all the time," said Justice Kaul.

"We are no saying that stubble burning is the only contributor but it is a significant factor," he added.
02
'Delhi can’t be made to go through this year after year'
While listening to senior advocate Aparajita Singh, who is the amicus curiae in the matter, detail the issue, Justice Kaul asked Singh to cut to the chase, asking, "What is the solution? Delhi can’t be made to go through this."

He reminded the counsels that a number of children in Delhi are facing health issues due to the persistent pollution.
03
'We don't know how you do it, it’s your job'
When Punjab Advocate General Gurminder Singh tried to point out that this particular problem occurs only around 20-50 days every year, Justice Kaul asked the state to stop the issue by "forceful actions and sometimes by incentives."

It is the peculiar problem of timing...but there is no seriousness I feel, Justice Kaul said, as per the legal website Live Law. "... we want it (stubble burning) stopped. We don't know how you do it, it’s your job. But it must be stopped. Something has to be done immediately," he added.
04
'What are you doing for vehicles coming to Delhi?'
Justice Kaul also grilled the Delhi government on its role in tackling the issue, asking, "What are you doing for vehicles coming to Delhi?"

The judge also said that while crop burning is a major issue, the traffic situation in the Delhi-NCR region is also a contributor to the pollution.

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