Supreme Court bans sale of firecrackers in Delhi, NCR on Diwali

Firecrackers will not be sold in Delhi and NCR on Diwali this season as the Supreme Court on Monday upheld the ban on sale till November 1, stating that it wants to assess the difference to the air quality.

The court in its September order had removed the ban on firecracker sales from November, adding that it wants to test the effect of the ban on air quality after Diwali, the festival when millions across India celebrate by bursting crackers.

Three children had gone to the apex court asking that its order banning the sale of crackers in Delhi in November 2016 be restored.

The central pollution body -- Central Pollution Control Board -- supported the petitioners and wanted the ban be restored.

The Supreme Court on Tuesday lifted “for the time being” its order of suspending the permanent licences for sale and retail of fire crackers within the National Capital Region (NCR) by modifying its order of November last year.

The apex court, however, said its order lifting the suspension of permanent licences might require a review after Diwali, depending on the ambient air quality after the festival.

The top court has appointed a committee, to be headed by the chairperson of the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), to conduct a research on the impact of bursting fire crackers during the festive season of Dussehra and Diwali on the health of the people.

The court also directed the Delhi Police to reduce the number of temporary licences by 50 per cent of those granted last year and cap it at 500.