Tanisha Rana
Published on: October 10, 2022 at 23:17 IST
On Monday, the Supreme Court declined to remove the ban on firecrackers in Delhi.
“We will not lift the ban on firecrackers in the National Capital Region. Our order is very clear,” the Supreme Court said.
In response to BJP MP Manoj Tiwari’s appeal against the blanket ban on the sale, purchase, and use of firecrackers during the festive season, the Supreme Court expressed concern over the rising pollution levels in the Delhi-National Capital Region and noted that the previous order would not be overturned.
The ban on firecrackers in the National Capital Region was declared by the Supreme Court to be quite clear in our order. Even if they are green crackers, how can we let them?
The SC questioned the petitioner, “Have you witnessed the pollution of Delhi?”
While deliberating the matter, a bench presided over by Justice M R Shah stated, “The Delhi NCR’s air quality would get worse after Diwali. Things will deteriorate.”
The bench stated that even the usage of green fireworks should be limited while mentioning the parali season and stating that the upcoming few days would be extremely challenging for all of us while also linking the current petition with other ongoing issues.
Tiwari has appealed the Delhi government order that prohibits the sale, purchase, and use of firecrackers during religious holidays celebrated by Hindus, Sikhs, Christians, and other communities.
Additionally, the petition asks that all states refrain from coercive measures like filing police reports against regular citizens who are caught selling or using legal firecrackers during the approaching festival season.
The plea stated that such arrests and FIRs during a holiday like Deepawali “have not only given a very poor message to the public at large and has unnecessarily caused a dread and fury among the masses.”
The court had made it clear the previous year that there isn’t a blanket ban on using fireworks; rather, only those that include barium salts are forbidden.
The Supreme Court’s stance makes it clear that the prohibition on firecrackers would remain in effect in Delhi throughout the festivals of Diwali, Chhath Puja, Guru Nanak Jayanti, and New Year.