New Delhi: The Supreme Court on September 22 imposed a fine of Rs 15,000 each on 10 states for not filing their responses to a petition alleging non-compliance of a court order directing inclusion of environmental subjects in the school syllabus.

Taking the non-filing of responses as "disobedience" of court order, a Bench comprising Justice N Santosh Hegde and Justice B P Singh directed the states of Maharashtra, Rajasthan, West Bengal, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Assam, Goa, Jammu and Kashmir, Jharkhand and Arunachal Pradesh to deposit the fine amount within four weeks.

The Bench said the last opportunity is being given to these defaulting states to file their responses and deposit the fine within four weeks failing which their Chief Secretaries will be held responsible.

PTI