Supreme Court Criticizes Delhi and Neighboring States Over Pollution Control Vacancies
The Supreme Court has reprimanded Delhi and the adjoining states of Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Punjab for leaving their pollution control boards understaffed. Chief secretaries have been directed to submit a time-bound plan within three weeks to address this issue. The court’s scrutiny revealed Delhi as the worst offender, with 233 out of 344 posts vacant in the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC). Justice AS Oka’s bench emphasized that the pollution control bodies were rendered ineffective due to these vacancies, undermining their crucial statutory functions.
Justice Oka noted the dire situation in Delhi, where pollution control efforts are severely hampered. The court expressed concern over the use of contractual workers instead of regular appointments, calling this practice unacceptable. The neighboring states also reported significant vacancies: Haryana had 202 out of 483 posts unfilled, Rajasthan 476 out of 808, Punjab 315 out of 650, and Uttar Pradesh still needing to fill 145 out of 732 posts. The bench demanded a detailed affidavit from the chief secretaries outlining a schedule to fill these vacancies.
The court highlighted the broader environmental impact of these staffing issues, pointing out that pollution control boards play a vital role under the Environment Protection Act, Air Act, and Water Act. Senior advocate Aparajita Singh noted that vacancy figures had remained stagnant for months, with little progress in addressing them. The Supreme Court underscored the urgent need for fully functional pollution control boards to mitigate environmental damage and protect public health.
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