SC allows green firecrackers in Delhi-NCR from Oct 18-20, limits bursting to 6-7 am & 8-10 pm

The Supreme Court on Wednesday permitted the limited use of green firecrackers in Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR) during Diwali, setting clear restrictions on their sale, timing, and usage, even as air quality in the capital continued to deteriorate, reaching “very poor” levels in several areas.

- AIMAN FATIMA

A bench comprising Chief Justice B R Gavai and Justice K Vinod Chandran allowed the sale and bursting of green crackers between October 18 and 20, but under tightly controlled conditions. Only CSIR-NEERl-certified firecrackers bearing verifiable QR codes will be permitted, and their use will be confined to 6 am to 7 am and 8 pm to 10 pm on the designated days.

The bench clarified that sales would only be allowed at authorized sites between October 15 and 25 and directed the Delhi Police to carry out surprise inspections to prevent illegal trade. The court also warned that crackers smuggled from outside Delhi-NCR cause more harm than certified ones and that violators would face cancellation of their licenses.

“While protecting the environment is paramount, celebrations rooted in culture and faith must also be respected. The approach must be balanced,’ the bench observed, emphasising that there was no empirical evidence to justify a total ban on green firecrackers.

“We have to take a balanced approach, taking into account the conflicting interests and permit in moderation, while not compromising the environmental concerns. While doing so, we also take note of the concerns raised by Haryana.