SC reserves verdict on green firecracker sale, use across Delhi-NCR

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta suggested that the Supreme Court allow the bursting of green crackers to be permitted from 8 pm to 10 pm on Diwali under strict conditions

The Supreme Court (SC) on Friday reserved its decision on pleas seeking permission to manufacture and sell green firecrackers in the Delhi-NCR region.

 

A Bench comprising Chief Justice BR Gavai and Justice K Vinod Chandran heard submissions from various stakeholders, including Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, before reserving the order.

 

NCR states push for green crackers

 

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the National Capital Region (NCR) states, urged the top court to allow the bursting of green firecrackers on occasions such as Diwali, Guru Parv, and Christmas.

 

On Diwali, Mehta suggested that the use of green crackers be permitted from 8 pm to 10 pm. "We have made suggestions," he told the Bench, adding that the proposals reflected a “balanced approach which the court may consider".     

 

 

Conditions for sale and use

 

Mehta proposed that only green crackers approved by the National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI) be manufactured and sold. He said the NCR states, Delhi government, and Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation (PESO) would ensure that joint crackers or ‘laris’ are not produced or used.

 

He recommended that sales take place only through licensed traders, who would be allowed to sell only permitted crackers. “Let the children celebrate at least for two days,” Mehta said, as quoted by Live Law.

 

He also suggested that no e-commerce platform, including Flipkart and Amazon, should process online orders for crackers.

 

Guidelines for other festivals

 

Mehta proposed specific timings for other celebrations: on Christmas and New Year’s Eve, crackers could be used from 11:55 pm to 12:30 am. For Gurpurab, he suggested 4 am to 5 am in the morning and 9 pm to 10 pm at night. He added that green crackers could also be allowed for weddings and other occasions. 

 

Court questions past judgments

 

The Chief Justice questioned whether the situation in 2024 differed significantly from 2018, when air quality levels and other factors had led to restrictions. “Was there a drastic change, like in 2018 it was 300 and 2024 it was 500… there is something like judicial propriety. When a bench gives a judgment considering all issues, can another Bench sit over that?” he asked.

 

Mehta replied that the situation “remained more or less the same except the Covid-19 period it came down".

 

SC allows manufacturing of green crackers

 

On September 26, the Supreme Court allowed certified manufacturers to produce green crackers, but prohibited their sale in Delhi-NCR without court approval. The Centre has also been asked to review the existing ban on firecracker production in the region.

 

The NCR comprises Delhi and 16 districts from Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and Rajasthan.

 

(With agency inputs)