The Supreme Court has said there will be no complete ban on bursting firecrackers on Diwali, while making it clear that allowing crackers to be burst round the clock cannot be permitted. The court underlined the need for a balanced solution that respects public sentiments while protecting the environment.
Diwali is set to be celebrated across India on November 8. The court noted that bursting crackers is a common practice during the festival, but large-scale use in a single day can cause serious environmental harm.
The matter, pending for several years, came up before a bench of Justices M.M. Sundresh and Varale. The Additional Solicitor General, Aishwarya Bhati, told the court that next-generation “green crackers” recommended by CSIR-NEERI—developed with reduced barium salt—could be allowed with appropriate restrictions.
Representing firecracker manufacturers, senior advocate K. Parameshwar argued for uniform rules across the country and said Delhi should not be singled out unnecessarily, suggesting that directions could be revisited considering climatic changes.
In its order, the bench said bursting crackers throughout the day would severely impact the environment and cause hardship to children, the elderly and patients, while a total ban could hurt festival sentiments. The court indicated that permitting crackers only during specified time slots would be the way forward, and allowed the Centre’s proposal related to “saravedi” manufacturing. The case was adjourned to October 15, pending tests on barium-containing crackers and the Central Pollution Control Board’s report.
