Supreme Court allows green firecrackers in NCR for Diwali with limits

The Supreme Court on Wednesday temporarily lifted its blanket ban on firecrackers in the Delhi National Capital Region, permitting the sale and bursting of certified green firecrackers for Diwali while setting strict conditions and monitoring requirements. A bench led by Chief Justice B.R. Gavai and Justice K. Vinod Chandran said bursting would be allowed from October 18 to 21, with sale permitted beginning October 18, and confined the hours for use to 6 pm to 10 pm, according to the court order.

The court directed the Central Pollution Control Board and state pollution control boards in the NCR to monitor air quality during the trial period and file reports, including sampling of water, to the court. It required manufacturers to upload QR codes for permitted products, ordered police and local authorities to constitute patrolling teams to check sales, and said violations could lead to suspension of sellers' licences. The bench also barred e commerce platforms from supplying firecrackers into the region. The order allows only products certified by relevant agencies and calls for inspections by the Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation and the National Environmental...