No blanket ban on firecrackers, can burst green ones from 8-10 pm on Diwali: Supreme Court

The Supreme Court on Tuesday said that bursting of firecrackers will be allowed, but with conditions. On Diwali, crackers will be allowed for two hours, from 8 pm to 10 pm while on Christmas and New Year celebrations bursting between 11:45pm to 12:30 am, the court said. "Only crackers with reduced emission will be allowed and they can be sold through licenced holders," the judges said.

The apex court, in its order, banned the online sale of firecrackers and put a stay on the e-commerce portals from selling firecrackers.

“Delhi has been the most polluted city in the world and health-related illnesses primarily target the youngest of its citizens,” the petition read as per NDTV reports. The Centre has opposed a complete ban on the sale of crackers across the country.

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The top court had on August 28 reserved its order on the plea for a countrywide ban on firecrackers to curb the worsening air pollution scenario. The court had reserved its order after hearing the petitioners, firecrackers manufacturers, the Centre and the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).

The bench had earlier said that there was a need to strike a balance between the right to health and the right to carry on a trade or profession. It had also said that there was a fundamental right to livelihood of firecrackers manufacturers as well as the fundamental right to health of 130 crore citizens of the country.

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The manufacturers had contended that pollution had reached very high levels, not due to the bursting of the firecrackers alone but also on account of vehicular pollution, construction dust and stubble-burning.

“The question is whether an entire industry can be shut down citing air pollution while other industries are allowed to continue,” the five firecrackers manufacturers had contended as per a Times Now report.