Why Firecracker Ban Not Implemented On Diwali? SC Asks Govt, Pitches 'Perpetual Ban' To Curb Delhi Pollution

The top court proposed a perpetual ban on firecrackers in Delhi round the year including other festivals, marriages and elections. 

The top court has asked the Delhi Police to file an affidavit in the the court within a week indicating steps taken by them to implement the firecracker ban in Delhi and what action they took to ensure compliance.  

Source : ANI

The Supreme Court on Monday said that Firecracker ban during Diwali has hardly been implemented and the pollution level was higher than the past two years. The top court proposed a perpetual ban on firecrackers in Delhi round the year including other festivals, marriages and elections. The top court further noted that the instances of farm fires also increased on the day of Diwali. 

The top court has asked the Delhi Police to file an affidavit in the court within a week indicating steps taken by them to implement the firecracker ban in Delhi and what action they took to ensure compliance.  

The court further sought an explanation from the Delhi government on steps taken by them to ensure implementation of the firecracker ban in Diwali.

A bench of Justice Abhay Oka and Justice Augustine George Masih passed several directions to state governments as well as Centre to ensure implementation of steps proposed to curb air pollution in the national capital.

The court further ordered the Punjab and Haryana government to file fresh affidavits indicating the details about the number of instances of stubble burning or farm fires during the last 10 days of October. The Delhi govt will also state in their reply whether there were instances of farm fires within the remit of Delhi. 

The bench also told Centre that it must decide Punjab's proposal for release of funds meant for providing tractors with drivers, etc to small farmers.

"You cannot keep it pending. Specific direction was issued to decide within two weeks," Justice Oka remarked. The court granted Centre one more week to decide on the issue and sought compliance by 14th November.

Last month the top court raised concern on the failure of the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) and states of Punjab and Haryana to take penal action against violators of ban on stubble burning.

On October 23, the top court observed that stubble burning violates the fundamental right to a pollution free environment under Article 21.

On last occasion, the court came down heavily on CAQM and Centre and said their inaction has rendered the Environmental Protection Act 'toothless'.