Thread by @barandbench

STUBBLE BURNING:

#SupremeCourt takes up for hearing petition highlighting the issue of stubble burning in the States of Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh.

Bench led by CJI SA Bobde is hearing the petition.

#stubbleburning #AirPollution #Punjab #Haryana #UttarPradesh

Senior Counsel Vikas Singh for the petitioner tells the Court that the State of Punjab has filed an affidavit while States of Haryana and UP have not.

Singh argues that something needs to be done.

CJI: Don't say "something", you make specific prayers

Singh: The prayer in my petition is that a one man commission of Justice (retd) Madan Lokur can be appointed because he has dealt with many environment issues... Because state agencies and EPCA etc are not empowered and don't have any teeth to take action.

#SupremeCourt

CJI asks: We have two questions,

- Have you taken consent from Justice Lokur?
- Is there a force like the NCC or something similar that can be mobilised in these States to identify/monitor instances of stubble burning?

ASG Aishwarya Bhati for the Centre urges the Court to take up the issue when the #SupremeCourt reopens after Dussehra vacation.

Bhati: EPCA is seized of the matter and Centre is in touch with the States.

CJI mulls over asking EPCA to make mobile teams in the States for surveillance, supervision and management of thr problem and the matter can be taken up for hearing of after Dussehra break.

#SupremeCourt #stubbleburning #AirPollution

SC is informed that State of #UttarPradesh is not party to this litigation.

SC asks for the State to be made a party

Singh informs the Bench that he has spoken to Justice Lokur who is agreeable to taking on this responsibility.

CJI asks Singh for the specifics of the role that Justice Lokur would then be expected to take on.

#AirPollution #stubbleburning #SupremeCourt

Singh: Justice Lokur can take assistance from NGOs/NCC for creation of mobile teams that can monitor and identify instances of stubble burning based on which orders can be passed.

States of Punjab and Haryana apprise the Court of the steps sought to be taken.

CJI says that the Court will not hear the case in entirety today and is looking to pass orders in the interim considering Court will not be in session for nine days starting tomorrow.

ASG Bhati urges for the Court to first consider the steps taken by EPCA in this regard before passing orders.

CJI Bobde: We are only concerned that the citizens of Delhi NCR get to breathe clean and fresh air. The order will not be an indictment on EPCA or any other body.

BREAKING: Supreme Court appoints Justice (retd) Madan Lokur to act as the one man monitoring committee to prevent stubble burning in States of #Punjab, #Haryana and #UttarPradesh.

#AirPollution #DelhiAirPollution

#SupremeCourt asks Chief Secretaries of #Punjab, #Haryana & #UttarPradesh to assist Justice Lokur and enable physical surveillance of all the fields where #stubbleburning is likely to take place and devise methods to prevent it.

SC says it would be fitting if corps such as the NCC, NSS or the Bharat Scouts and guides are deployed for creation of mobile teams.

#SupremeCourt #AirPollution #DelhiAirPollution #Punjab #Haryana #UttarPradesh

The committee may submit a fortnightly report to the Supreme Court or submit a report as and when required.

Court to hear the matter next on October 26.

#SupremeCourt #AirPollution #StubbleBurning

Just as the Bench was about to rise after finishing the Board, SG Tushar Mehta requests the Court not to sign the order of appointment of Justice (retd) Madan Lokur.

Mehta requests for status quo to remain and urged Court to hear him on next date.

CJI asks Mehta why this request was being made.

Mehta: We have some reservations. And the Lordship may not be troubled.

CJI: What reservations?

Mehta: I will have to file an application, we could avoid that.

CJI: We have not given him any extraordinary power or jurisdiction

Mehta: We are only requesting to be heard on Monday first.

CJI: We heard the matter at length for half an hour. We heard evryone. The consent of the Judge was taken. We passed the order in open Court. You tell us what your reservations are orally.

Mehta again presses for order not to be passed for now.

Supreme Court however declines to accept this request.

Supreme Court appoints Justice (retd) Madan Lokur to monitor and prevent stubble burning even as SG Tushar Mehta opposes appointment #stubbleburning #AirPollution #DelhiNCR #SupremeCourt

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