SC refuses to ban firecrackers

The Supreme Court (SC) on Wednesday refused to ban bursting of firecrackers this Diwali.

A PIL seeking ban on crackers was filed by advocate parents of three infants - Arjun Gopal, Aarav Bhandari and Zoya Rao Bhasin.

The apex court further directed the Centre to publish pollution awareness advertisements from October 31 to November 12.

A bench of Chief Justice H.L. Dattu and Justice Arun Kumar said the apex court had issued a series of directions on the same in 2005 according to which crackers should not be burst after 10 p.m.