In a sharp rebuke to the inaction of Delhi and NCR states in addressing vacancies in their pollution control bodies, the Supreme Court on Thursday issued contempt notices to the chief secretaries of Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, and Rajasthan for failing to comply with its earlier directive.
A bench comprising Justices Abhay S Oka and Ujjal Bhuyan expressed strong displeasure over what it termed a “sorry state of affairs,” highlighting that more than half the posts in the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) remain vacant. The court noted that the DPCC was “virtually defunct,” with nearly 55% of sanctioned posts unfilled.
The top court had earlier passed an order in August 2024 mandating that all vacancies in state pollution control boards be filled by April 30, 2025. However, the court observed on Thursday that its directive had not been complied with.
Taking serious note of the lapse, the bench issued contempt notices to the chief secretaries of the four states, asking them to explain why they should not be punished under the Contempt of Courts Act, 1971 for wilful non-compliance of the court’s order.
The Chief Secretary of Delhi has been directed to appear in person before the court on May 19, while the chief secretaries of Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, and Rajasthan have been asked to appear virtually on July 18.
The court’s action underlines its concern over institutional apathy towards environmental governance and the continued degradation of air quality in Delhi-NCR due to administrative inaction.
