Supreme Court rejects total ban and round-the-clock fireworks

The Supreme Court of India said it would not impose a total ban on Diwali firecrackers or permit their use around the clock, signalling that any use should be limited to specified hours. The bench of Justices M.M. Sundresh and P.B. Varale has not yet settled which types may be allowed or set the hours; those decisions remain pending further consideration of barium-related evidence. The judges said a complete prohibition could affect the sentiments of people celebrating Diwali, while unrestricted fireworks could affect others, including children, older people and those who are sick. They said the court would seek a middle course by specifying permitted times rather than allowing use throughout the day. Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati submitted that the court could consider a limited, conditional relaxation for specified next-generation joined green crackers recommended by the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research-National Environmental Engineering Research Institute. Her submission proposed requirements on safety, emissions and noise, and said the crackers should be made only by licensed manufacturers and contain no banned chemicals.