Noting the rampant stubble burning in neighbouring states, leading to pollution in Delhi, the Supreme Court on Wednesday pulled up the Centre for rendering the Environmental Protection Act “toothless” through amendments. The top court noted that the Centre was not taking any penal action towards combating pollution in Delhi caused by stubble burning and only nominal fines were being collected.

Additional Solicitor General (ASG) Aishwarya Bhati, representing the Centre, assured the court that rules would be finalised within 10 days and the Act would be made “fully operational”.

“We will take the Union of India to task… it has not created any machinery. The Environmental Protection Act has become toothless. You have got rid of punishment and replaced it with a penalty by amending Section 15 and the procedure to be followed for imposing a penalty cannot be followed,” the Supreme Court said.

Section 15 of the Act outlines the penalties for violation of its provisions. The top court directed the Centre to amend the law to increase the environmental compensation cess levied on violators.