SC Lashes Out At Firecracker Makers For Using Toxic Chemicals, Says Can't Infringe Right To Life
The apex court cited a CBI report on the use of toxic chemicals in manufacturing firecrackers and pointed out that there has been a violation of the court's orders
New Delhi: With days left for the festival of Diwali, Supreme Court has lashed out at firecracker manufacturers for violating its 2018 judgment banning toxic ingredients like barium in fireworks. The top court said that the prime focus of the court is the "right to life of innocent people".
The apex court cited a CBI report on the use of toxic chemicals in manufacturing firecrackers and pointed out that there has been a violation of the court's orders on the use of barium and labelling of fireworks.
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A bench of Justices M R Shah and A S Bopanna said the CBI has found harmful chemicals such as barium salts in the seized items.
The bench also said that manufacturers such as Hindustan Fireworks and Standard Fireworks purchased barium in huge quantities and used these chemicals in the fireworks.
Brushing aside manufacturers' contention that thousands of employees earn from the industry, the top court said that "we have to keep a balance between employment, unemployment and the right to life and health of citizens."
"Our prime focus is the right to life of innocent citizens. If we find green crackers are there and accepted by the committee of experts we will pass suitable orders," news agency PTI quoted the bench as saying adding that in our country, the main difficulty is implementation.
The top court also said that every day there is a celebration in the country but it has to look at other factors as well and cannot allow people to suffer and die.
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The court further observed that every day there is a violation of orders and in every religious event, victory processions, marriages we can see flouting of orders and we will have to fix liability on someone, else, this will not stop at all.
However, the bench granted one more opportunity to the manufacturers to put forward their case with respect to the report of the Joint Director, CBI, Chennai and directed that a copy of the preliminary inquiry report of the CBI be served to all the concerned counsels.
The court has listed the matter for the next hearing on October 6.
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