NGT junks plea to declare Diwali a national event

The National Green Tribunal has dismissed a plea seeking directions to consider Diwali a national event and announce tax concession for the manufacture and sale of crackers.

A bench headed by Justice U D Salvi declined the plea by a religious group and made it clear that it was not concerned with any other activity, except the environment.

"We do not find any material borne of universal human experience except the word 'faithful' in the present application for coming to the conclusion that it raises a substantial question of law arising out of the implementation of the Acts specified under the Schedule 1 of the NGT Act, 2010. We, therefore, dismiss this application," the bench said.

The directions came while hearing a plea filed by Ojasvi party seeking directions to curb the propaganda against the bursting of crackers by "private and government agencies".

The plea alleged that NGOs have initiated a "propaganda" against the Hindu beliefs under the cover of judicial process and sought probe and penalty on them.

The religious group also claimed that burning of sulphur has a salubrious effect on the environment as it disinfects the air and "the western ideas have brought misery to the Indian nation".