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In the order of August 27, 2024, it was directed that the vacancies should be filled by 30 April 2025. As far as the state of Haryana is concerned, 35 percent of the posts are vacant.
New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Thursday reprimanded the governments of Delhi and neighboring states Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan for not filling the vacant posts in their pollution control boards. A bench of Justice Abhay S Oka and Justice Ujjal Bhuiyan had issued contempt notices to the Chief Secretaries of Delhi, UP, Haryana and Rajasthan for not following their order of August 2024, in which they were asked to fill the vacancies by 30 April this year. The apex court said that 55 percent of the posts in the Delhi Pollution Control Committee were vacant and it was shocking that the body was inactive.
Chief Secretary of Delhi will be presented personally on May 19
While issuing the notice, the apex court ordered the officials to explain why they should not be punished under the contempt of court for non-non-disconnection. While the Chief Secretary of Delhi has been instructed to appear in court on May 19. While the chief secretaries of other states have been ordered to be produced on 18 July. The bench said that it has been passing strict orders to prevent air pollution in the Delhi NCR region since 1985. A case has been registered under the Act and Water Act.
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The bench said that by referring to the NCR states, we find that this is a very regrettable situation. In our order of our 27 August 2024, it was directed that vacancies in relation to NCR states should be filled by 30 April 2025. As far as the state of Haryana is concerned, 35 percent of the posts are vacant. 45 percent posts in Rajasthan are vacant. The apex court said that 45 percent of the posts in the case of Uttar Pradesh are vacant. About 55 percent of the posts in Delhi are vacant. Therefore, we can say that as far as Delhi is concerned, the pollution control body is non-functional.
Court comment: Delhi’s Pollution Control Committee almost passive
The bench said that Delhi has been struggling with rising air pollution for the last several years. On this background, we are shocked to know that Delhi’s Pollution Control Committee is almost passive because 55 percent of the posts are vacant. The state of Haryana stated the problem that candidates are not available. Pollution control boards do not need to limit the recruitment process only to the people of their state. This may be an all -India process. Dilli, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and Haryana deliberately accused the 27 August 2024 order, saying that we instruct that the notice of contempt will be issued to the Chief Secretaries of the above states. In return, the Chief Secretaries were ordered to explain why they should not be punished under the contempt Act, 1971 of the Court.
Instructions to fill 21 percent vacant posts in Central Pollution Control Board by August 2025
The bench said that we make it clear that the matter will become a case of serious contempt if not complied with a return date. The Supreme Court also kept 21 percent of the vacant posts in the Central Pollution Control Board and directed them to fill them by August 2025. It is necessary to see the functioning of SPCB as well as committees. Perhaps they will be using old technology and equipment. We instruct CAQM to conduct a study on these aspects. CAQM will work on this aspect and make its recommendations by the end of July. They will send them to the PCB of CPCB as well as Haryana, Rajasthan, UP and Delhi.
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