Delhi, NCR chief secretaries face SC contempt for failing to fill pollution board posts

New Delhi: The Supreme Court of India on Thursday issued contempt notices to the chief secretaries of Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, and Rajasthan over their failure to comply with its earlier directive to fill vacancies in their respective state pollution control bodies. The top court had previously ordered in August 2024 that all such vacancies be filled by 30 April 2025.

A bench comprising Justices Abhay S Oka and Ujjal Bhuyan expressed strong disapproval of the inaction, describing the situation as a "sorry state of affairs". The court noted that over 55 per cent of posts in the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) remain vacant, rendering the body "virtually defunct".

Taking serious note of the non-compliance, the court directed the Delhi chief secretary to appear in person before it on 19 May. Chief secretaries of Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and Rajasthan were ordered to appear virtually on 18 July.

The Supreme Court has asked all the officials to explain why action under the Contempt of Courts Act, 1971 should not be initiated against them. The matter highlights ongoing concerns over institutional readiness and environmental governance in the National Capital Region, where air pollution remains a persistent issue.

(With PTI inputs)