Firecrackers as harmful as firearms: Delhi HC

Observing that firecrackers were capable of causing harm just like firearms, the Delhi High court has rejected a plea for a temporary licence to sell crackers and said that injuries caused by firecrackers on Diwali had become a routine affair.

"...it is not as if firecrackers are capable of any less harm than an arm within the meaning of the Arms Act," Justice Rajiv Sahai Endlaw said.

"Owing to less stringent control on use, firecrackers are available far more easily than an arm and are rampantly used and which has over the years resulted in incidents of fire and injury caused by firecrackers, on the occasion of Diwali, having become a routine affair and multiplying annually," the court said.

The court said that none could claim a right to burst firecrackers at the cost of injury to another, adding that firecrackers did not have any religious sanctity.

As it adversely affected environment and caused various ailments, licences for their sale should be granted by following a rational criteria, the court said.

The court was hearing a plea filed by Manisha Sharma, who had sought a temporary firework licence for selling firecrackers in the city.