SC calls for jailing of stubble burners; not feasible, says Centre
ENVIRONMENT – POLLUTION
18 SEPTEMBER 2025
- The Supreme Court and the Union government differed sharply over how to deal with farmers who pollute the air by burning stubble ahead of the winter season.
- Chief Justice of India B.R. Gavai, heading a Bench, advocated a return to criminal prosecution of errant agriculturists, even suggesting a separate legislation.
- The Centre, however, maintained that its policy was to take farmers along rather than put them behind bars.
- Additional Solicitor-General Aishwarya Bhati, appearing for the Union government, said the issue boiled down to implementation by the State governments, noting that farmers had been exempted from prosecution under the Commission for Air Quality Management Act as a matter of policy. It would not be feasible to prosecute farmers criminally, she argued.
- Despite “humongous” efforts and funds spent by the Centre, farmers continued to burn stubble, creating a toxic haze across northern States each winter.
- “You should take all the States aboard and then come up with a uniform policy [on stubble-burning]. You consider doing that, or we will issue mandamus,” the CJI said.
