A Blanket Firecracker Ban in NCR Absolutely Essential: SC

The Supreme Court on Thursday refused to alter its permanent ban on firecrackers in the National Capital Region (NCR), dismissing a plea filed by firework manufacturers who sought either a temporary ban of 3-4 months, permission for green firecrackers, or restricting the ban only to Delhi, citing loss of livelihood.

- Abraham Thomas

The court was considering a bunch of applications moved by associations of dealers and manufacturers of fireworks who challenged successive orders passed by the top court since December 2024, directing NCR states to have a year-long ban on the manufacture, storage, sale and distribution of firecrackers.

A bench headed by Justice Abhay S Oka said the prohibition is "absolutely essential" considering the "horrible" air quality in Delhi-NCR.

"The ban is in Delhi-NCR only. We feel that a ban is absolutely necessary. Restricting it to a few months will not serve any purpose as the crackers will be stored beyond and after the ban period. Unless pollution by crackers is bare minimum, there is no question of lifting the ban," the court said.