Supreme Court Permits Sale of Green Firecrackers in Delhi-NCR On Diwali With Strict Curbs

Supreme Court Allows Sale of Green Firecrackers in Delhi-NCR On Diwali From October 18 to 25, Imposes Time Limits and Monitoring Rules

The Supreme Court has allowed the temporary sale of green firecrackers in Delhi and the National Capital Region during Diwali, addressing petitions that sought permission for their manufacture and sale. The decision comes after extensive deliberations on balancing festival celebrations with environmental concerns.

A bench comprising Chief Justice BR Gavai and Justice K Vinod Chandran ruled that the bursting of green firecrackers will be allowed only from October 18 to 21. Chief Justice BR Gavai emphasized the need for a balanced approach, considering both pollution concerns and industry demands. He highlighted that conventional firecrackers are often smuggled and cause significant environmental damage.

The court noted that out of the 22 districts in Haryana, 14 fall under the NCR, and previous bans on firecrackers had minimal impact on air quality, except during the Covid-19 period when restrictions coincided with reduced human activity. This observation formed a key part of the rationale for allowing limited firecracker use this Diwali.

The bench clarified that the sale of green firecrackers will be permitted from October 18 to 25. Police authorities are tasked with forming patrolling teams to ensure that only approved products with QR codes are sold. Violators will be issued notices as per the court’s directive.

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To further minimize environmental impact, the court stipulated that firecracker use will be restricted to the hours between 6 pm and 10 pm. Additionally, there will be no supply of firecrackers through e-commerce platforms, preventing unregulated online sales.

The Supreme Court had earlier reserved its decision, stating that a complete ban on firecrackers in Delhi-NCR was “neither practical nor ideal.” The bench recognized that such bans are often violated, and therefore, a measured approach was required. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Centre and NCR states, argued that children should be allowed to burst crackers during Diwali and other festivals without overly restrictive time limits.

Questioning the effectiveness of the blanket ban that has been in place since 2018, the bench asked authorities whether the prohibition had significantly improved air quality levels, as measured by the Air Quality Index (AQI). The evaluation of tangible environmental benefits was a crucial factor in shaping the court’s decision.

Meanwhile, on Tuesday, the Centre’s air quality panel directed Delhi-NCR authorities to implement Stage I of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) in response to the “poor” pollution levels. The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) reported an AQI of 211 in Delhi and indicated that poor air quality could persist in the coming days.

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Under Stage I measures, agencies are instructed to step up road cleaning and watering to control dust, enforce bans on open waste burning, manage construction debris properly, and promote public transport. The CAQM will continue to monitor pollution levels and take further measures based on air quality and weather conditions.

This Supreme Court order reflects an attempt to balance cultural celebrations with environmental responsibilities, allowing citizens to celebrate Diwali with green firecrackers while imposing strict restrictions to protect air quality in Delhi-NCR.

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