'Pained' that firecracker ban order communalised, says Supreme Court

The Supreme Court on Friday said it was "pained" to hear that it's October 9 order banning the sale of firecrackers in Delhi NCR till November 1 was communalized.

"We are pained to hear that some people are trying to give a communal colour to our order. It is sad," the apex court said.

Delhi BJP in its statement had said, "The world over in hundreds of countries people burn crackers on Christmas and the New Year but the way (Green Tribunal) has got Diwali firecrackers banned in the name of pollution is disgusting. More so as it ignores the pollution caused due to animal sacrifice by followers of a particular religion."

When the statement of BJP was pointed out by senior lawyer Prashant Bhushan, the apex court said, "Don't bring in politics. There are statements off the cuff. It's the anguish expressed on our order."

"We haven't stopped the bursting of crackers. That will happen. Sale had already taken place. Anyway, it is not cracker free Diwali," the top court added.

The Supreme Court on Friday rejected a plea by traders seeking modifications in its order banning the sale of firecrackers in Delhi and nearby towns till November 1.

The court said, "It will be against the spirit of our orders. We are not going to relax the order on the sale of crackers. This is an experiment. After Diwali we will take stock of the situation."

The top court banned the sale of fire crackers in wake of deadly pollution after the Diwali festivities. The decision didn’t go down well with a group of people and they objected to the order saying it will impact the “celebrations of Diwali.”