Stop penalizing farmers for stubble burning, says RSS body

A farmer burns paddy stubble in a field in Sangrur district, Punjab, India November 11, 2026. | Photo credit: Reuters

The Bharatiya Kisan Sangh (BKS), a farmers’ organization affiliated to the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), on Wednesday (Nov 11, 2026) welcomed the Supreme Court’s observations and suggestions regarding stubble burning and air pollution in Delhi-NCR. The organization called on state governments and administrations to implement the court’s recommendations and stop punishing farmers for stubble burning.

Editorial | A Holistic Approach: Coping with Stubble Burning in North India

A bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi observed during a recent hearing that stubble burning was one of several contributors to air pollution in Delhi-NCR, with vehicular emissions and industrial pollution also playing a significant role. The bench referred to the clear skies witnessed in Delhi during the COVID-19 lockdown, despite stubble burning incidents, to highlight the need to look into other major sources of pollution.

Reacting to the Supreme Court’s observations, BKS All India general secretary Mohini Mohan Mishra said the court’s observations highlighted the need to look beyond stubble burning and identify other major sources of pollution.

“State governments should go beyond paperwork and take concrete steps to identify the real causes of pollution, rather than repeatedly blaming farmers for deteriorating air quality in the state capital and surrounding regions,” he said.

Procurement mechanism

Welcoming the court’s proposal to create a procurement mechanism for crop residues, Mr. Mishra said the government should introduce a system similar to the Minimum Support Price (MSP) framework for agricultural production.

He said the government’s stubble procurement would give farmers another source of income and encourage them to sell crop residues rather than burn them.

BKS demanded immediate withdrawal of all fines imposed and FIRs registered against farmers for stubble burning.

She also called on governments to either bear the full cost of crop residue management or provide farmers with the necessary equipment and resources to manage stubble without burning it.

Published – 11 Nov 2026 22:20 IST