- The Supreme Court expressed concern over ongoing stubble burning and the selective penalization approach by Punjab and Haryana, stating that this violates citizens’ right to a pollution-free environment under Article 21 of the Constitution.
- Citizens have a fundamental right to live in a pollution-free environment under Article 21.
- Environment Protection Act, 1986: Officials have not established a proper mechanism for collecting fines under Section 15 of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, which prescribes penalties including up to five years of imprisonment and a ₹1 lakh fine for violations.
- The court questioned the lack of meaningful change despite repeated orders to address air pollution issues, particularly during winter.
- The Centre and the Commission for Air Quality Management committed to establishing the necessary machinery for enforcement within two weeks.
- The amicus curiae raised further concerns about air pollution in urban areas of the national capital.
Dig Deeper: Read about mandate of Commission for Air Quality Management.
