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The court said the situation of pollution is so bad that people are wearing masks inside their houses.
A bench headed by Chief Justice N V Ramana said there are other reasons for pollution such as vehicular emissions, firecrackers and dust, and singling out stubble burning is not the solution.
”Your projection is as if farmers are responsible for this pollution. Seventy per cent. First, let the Delhi people be controlled. Where is the effective mechanism to control firecrackers, vehicle pollution etc.?
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The apex court has asked the Centre to revert on Monday.
It also took note of the fact that schools have opened in the national capital and asked the authorities to take immediate measures such as stopping vehicles or imposing a lockdown in Delhi.
Appearing for the Centre, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta said there is stubble burning in Punjab and the state will have to do something in this regard.
The bench, however, said, ”Your projection is as if farmers are only responsible. What about steps taken to contain the pollution in Delhi?” Mehta clarified that he was not even remotely suggesting that only farmers are responsible for the pollution.
When senior advocate Rahul Mehra, appearing for the Delhi government, mentioned the issue of stubble burning, the bench said, ”Be the petitioners, the Delhi government or anybody else — it has become a fashion to blame the farmers. Have you seen how crackers are being burnt in Delhi for the last seven days? What was the Delhi police doing?”
The apex court was hearing a plea filed by environmental activist Aditya Dubey and law student Aman Banka, who sought directions to provide stubble-removing machines to small and marginal farmers for free.