Haryana, Rajasthan, Delhi and UP told to fill vacancies in pollution control boards at earliest
New Delhi, April 25: The Supreme Court has issued directives to four states, namely Haryana, Rajasthan, Delhi and Uttar Pradesh, to urgently address the significant number of vacancies in their Statutory Pollution Control Boards. With over 6,092 positions lying vacant across various states, the apex court directed immediate action to fill these crucial roles.
A Bench comprising Justice Abhay S Oka and Ujjal Bhuyan issued this order on April 22, instructing Haryana, Rajasthan, Delhi and Uttar Pradesh to submit affidavits detailing the current number of vacancies and the steps taken to address them.
The Supreme Court's decision came in response to a report submitted by an Amicus Curiae, highlighting the alarming vacancy rate of 51 per cent in Statutory Pollution Control Boards and Pollution Control Committees nationwide. Despite a sanctioned strength of 11,969 positions, only 5,877 persons were employed, leaving a substantial gap of 6,092 vacancies.
Among the states with the highest vacancy rates, Haryana, Rajasthan, Delhi, and Uttar Pradesh were singled out for immediate action. In Haryana, nearly 65% of positions in the state Pollution Control Board remained unfilled, with only 165 employees out of a sanctioned strength of 450.
Similarly, Delhi faced a vacancy rate of 68%, with 233 out of 344 positions vacant in its pollution control body. Rajasthan witnessed a vacancy rate of almost 60%, with only 332 employees out of a sanctioned strength of 808. Uttar Pradesh showed a relatively lower vacancy rate of less than 45%, with 407 employees out of 732 sanctioned positions.
The Supreme Court set a deadline of two months for the states concerned to address these vacancies, with the matter slated for further hearing on July 10. The urgency of the situation was underscored by the critical role played by Statutory Pollution Control Boards in enforcing environmental laws and regulations to curb pollution across India.
- With inputs from agencies
