Why ban only in NCR: SC seeks uniform policy on firecrackers

The Supreme Court on Friday questioned the rationale behind having a firecracker ban exclusive to Delhi and the National Capital Region, emphasising that the Capital cannot receive special treatment simply because the elite reside there, as it sought the Centre's response on applications challenging the yearlong prohibition.

- Abraham Thomas

Abench headed by Chief Justice of India Bhushan R Gavai, also comprising justice K Vinod Chandran, observed: “If citizens in NCR are entitled to pollution-free air, why not so for people in other cit” ies.” The CJI recounted a winter visit to Amritsar’s Golden Temple, where he was told that pollution was worse there than in Delhi. “Just because Delhi is the Capital city and Supreme Courtis situated here, should citizens in other cities not get pollution-free air?” the bench remarked.

The observations came while hearing applications by firecracker manufacturers and citizen bodies objecting to the court's April 3 order, which confirmed its earlier December 19, 2024 ban on sale, manufacture, and storage of firecrackers in Delhi and NCR districts of Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, and Rajasthan.

“Whatever policy on banning firecrackers is there, it should be pan-India. We cannot havea special policy for Delhi where the elites are there. If firecrackers are to be banned, they should be banned throughout the country. There should be the same policy throughout the country,” the bench stated.