The Supreme Court has indicated that it will not impose a complete ban on firecrackers in Delhi-NCR during Diwali, while also ruling out permission for people to burst them throughout the day. The court is considering fixed hours for the use of permitted, lower-emission firecrackers as it weighs air pollution concerns against religious and public interests.
A bench of Justices MM Sundresh and PB Varale said the court would seek a balanced approach rather than adopt either a blanket prohibition or unrestricted use of firecrackers. The observations were made during a hearing on Wednesday, according to Live Hindustan.
“We will neither impose a complete ban on firecrackers nor allow firecrackers to be burst for 24 hours,” the bench said. It added that a limited time window could be specified, but only for firecrackers that are permitted under the applicable rules.
The court said a full ban could hurt the sentiments of some people, while allowing firecrackers to be used throughout the day would have a serious impact on older people, those who are ill, children and animals. The bench said the challenge was to identify a middle path by specifying both the permitted hours and the types of firecrackers that could be used.
The hearing followed a note submitted by Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati. The note proposed considering limited and conditional permission for a newer category described as “next-generation connected green crackers”. Bhati told the bench that these firecrackers had been developed with the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research-National Environmental Engineering Research Institute, or CSIR-NEERI, and contained reduced quantities of barium salts intended to lower pollution.
The court had earlier asked the Central Pollution Control Board to respond on whether limited relaxation could be considered for specific categories of firecrackers. During the hearing, Bhati sought time until October 15 to place the CPCB’s response on the use of barium-based firecrackers before the bench. She said outdoor testing of the products was still pending.
The additional solicitor general also suggested that the manufacture of joint firecrackers or firecracker chains could be allowed subject to conditions. The report did not specify the final operating hours, enforcement arrangements or the precise list of products that may eventually be permitted.
The proceedings continue a pattern in which the Supreme Court has sought to regulate firecracker use rather than rely only on an absolute prohibition. The court had allowed green firecrackers before Diwali last year, according to the report. Any final directions on permitted products, timings and restrictions will depend on the court’s further consideration of the CPCB’s response and the pending testing information.
