NATIONAL: Supreme Court Warns: ‘Don’t Politicise Stubble Burning’
Delhi’s air has thickened into a familiar winter haze, with the Air Quality Index hitting 361 on December 1, 2025, dipping into the “very poor” zone and choking lungs across the National Capital Region.
Amid this annual ritual of respiratory alerts, the Supreme Court stepped in with a sobering reminder: Pollution’s roots run deeper than the fields of Punjab and Haryana.
During a hearing led by Chief Justice Surya Kant, the bench challenged the knee-jerk habit of pointing fingers at stubble burning, urging a broader lens on urban culprits.
This isn’t just seasonal grumbling; it’s a call to rethink blame in a crisis that claims thousands of lives yearly.
As the court pushes for year-round vigilance, one lingering question tugs: If not the fields, then why does the sky still turn gray?
Beyond the Blame Game
The top court, comprising CJI Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi, drew from personal insight CJI Kant, raised in a Haryana farming family to question the narrative.
“It’s easy to target those without a voice in court,” the bench noted, highlighting how stubble burning often overshadows other factors.
They recalled the COVID lockdown: Fires raged on, yet blue skies prevailed, thanks to halted traffic and construction.
This observation cuts through political rhetoric, where Delhi’s AAP government routinely cites neighboring states.
The court stressed that turning crop residue into an ego clash helps no one, advocating instead for farmer education and equipment access to manage waste without flames.
Machinery Over Mandates
Banning burns without backups is futile, the judges asserted. Farmers need affordable tools like super straw management systems or balers to process residue into fodder or biofuel.
The bench directed the Commission for Air Quality Management and the Centre to prioritize such scientific aids, framing pollution as a shared national puzzle rather than a finger-pointing fest.
Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati outlined collaborative efforts with states, pinpointing vehicular exhaust, dust from roads and sites, waste incineration, and biomass use as equal offenders.
Implementation roadmaps are in the works, but the court demanded proof of progress.
Year-Round Fight, Not Winter Woe
Delhi’s smog can’t be a “customary” autumn affair, the Supreme Court ruled, scheduling bi-monthly reviews to track short- and long-term fixes.
This shift signals frustration with reactive measures like odd-even car rations or school closures, which treat symptoms over sources.
The bench tasked CAQM with a week-long report on action plan efficacy.
If results falter, fresh strategies must emerge. “Courts hold no magic wand,” CJI Kant remarked, “but experts can weave solutions from data and dialogue.”
Multi-Pronged Pollution Puzzle
To dissect the haze, the court spotlighted diverse drivers:
- Vehicle emissions, fueled by a fleet explosion in NCR.
- Construction dust, unchecked amid urban booms.
- Road and waste burning, everyday hazards amplifying toxins.
- Biomass reliance, from households to industries.
Bhati assured detailed state consultations have shaped targeted interventions.
Yet, with PM2.5 levels at 308 and PM10 at 361, hotspots like Anand Vihar (327) and Jahangirpuri (319) underscore the urgency.
This year’s January-November average AQI of 187 offers slim solace a dip from prior years, but far from breathable.
Horizon for Cleaner Air
As winter winds trap particulates, the Supreme Court’s nudge toward equity feels like a breath of fresh perspective.
Sensitizing stakeholders, subsidizing tech, and sequencing accountability could finally dilute the smog.