In a significant decision for Diwali celebrations, the Supreme Court has allowed the sale and use of green firecrackers in the Delhi-NCR region. The court’s bench, led by Chief Justice BR Gavai and Justice K Vinod Chandran, announced this decision, acknowledging a joint request from the Centre and the Delhi government. This move relaxes the previous ban on firecrackers, focusing specifically on environmentally friendlier ‘green’ options.
The Court has mandated that pollution control boards, both central and state-level within the NCR, must actively monitor pollution levels during the Diwali period and submit reports to the court. As a temporary measure, the use of firecrackers has been permitted from October 18 to October 21.
Chief Justice Gavai highlighted the issue of smuggled firecrackers entering Delhi-NCR, stating that these often cause more environmental damage than the regulated green crackers. He stressed the importance of a balanced approach, allowing the celebration in moderation without compromising environmental protection.
Further directives from the Supreme Court include regular checks by patrolling teams on cracker manufacturers. Manufacturers will be required to upload QR codes of their products onto their websites. Crucially, the court reiterated that crackers originating from outside the Delhi-NCR region are prohibited from being sold within the area; sellers found violating this rule will face license suspension.
The apex court had previously reserved its orders on petitions seeking permission for the manufacture and sale of green firecrackers in the region. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the Centre and NCR states, had advocated for unrestricted timing for the use of green crackers during festivals like Diwali, Guru Purab, and Christmas.
This decision comes as Delhi-NCR faces rising pollution levels, leading the Centre’s air quality panel to implement Stage I of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP). The Air Quality Index (AQI) in Delhi has been recorded in the ‘poor’ category, prompting these preventative measures, which include enhanced dust control, a ban on open waste burning, and the promotion of public transport.