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| Photo Credit: PTI

Calling it a sorry state of affairs, the Supreme Court of India on Thursday (May 8, 2025) chided Governments of Delhi and adjoining States of Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan for not filling vacancies in State pollution control boards.

A Bench of Justices Abhay S. Oka and Ujjal Bhuyan, therefore, issued contempt notices to the Chief Secretaries of Delhi, U.P., Haryana and Rajasthan over the non-compliance of its August 2024 order asking them to fill the vacancies by April 30, 2025.

The top court pointed out that the presence of 55% vacant posts in the Delhi Pollution Control Committee and said it was shocking that the body was “virtually defunct.”

Issuing notices, the Supreme Court ordered the officials to explain why they shouldn’t be punished under the Contempt of Courts Act, 1971 for the non-compliance.

While the Delhi Chief Secretary was directed to personally appear before the court on May 19, the Chief Secretaries of other States were ordered to virtually appear on July 18.