Pollution bodies vacancies: SC issues contempt notices to chief secretaries of Delhi, NCR states

The Supreme Court on Thursday sharply criticised Delhi and neighbouring NCR states for failing to comply with its directive to fill long-standing vacancies in their pollution control bodies, describing the situation as a “sorry state of affairs.”

A bench of Justices Abhay S Oka and Ujjal Bhuyan issued contempt notices to the chief secretaries of Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, and Rajasthan for not adhering to the Court’s August 2024 order, which had required all vacant posts in their respective pollution control boards to be filled by 30 April 2025.

Expressing particular concern over the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC), the bench noted that 55 per cent of its sanctioned posts remain unfilled. “It is shocking that the body is virtually defunct,” the judges observed during the hearing.

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Calling the non-compliance a grave violation of its earlier directive, the Court asked the officials to explain why they should not be penalised under the Contempt of Courts Act, 1971.

The Court directed the Chief Secretary of Delhi to appear in person on 19 May. The Chief Secretaries of Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and Rajasthan have been ordered to appear virtually on 18 July.

(With inputs from PTI)