SC Refuses To Interfere With Delhi Govt's Decision To Ban Firecrackers Ahead Of Diwali

The Supreme Court on Friday refused to interfere with the Delhi government's decision to ban the use of firecrackers.

The Supreme Court on Friday refused to interfere with the Delhi government's decision to ban the use of firecrackers.

Source : Getty

The Supreme Court on Friday refused to interfere with the Delhi government's decision to ban the use of firecrackers in the national capital ahead of the Diwali festival, as reported by the news agency ANI. The apex court also rejected the plea seeking the manufacture and use of firecrackers using barium. According to PTI, a bench of Justices AS Bopanna and MM Sundresh said the court has reiterated its 2018 ban and directions on bursting of conventional firecrackers to reduce pollution.

Supreme Court rejects plea seeking the manufacture and use of firecrackers using barium. Supreme Court refuses to interfere with Delhi government's decision to ban use of firecrackers in Delhi ahead of Diwali festivals. pic.twitter.com/MANMi6pjWj

— ANI (@ANI) September 22, 2023

"We are dismissing two applications seeking manufacture and sale of firecrackers containing barium and joint firecrackers. We have not interfered with the 2018 directions and reiterated them," the bench said, and instructed the authorities concerned to comply with the directions.

This comes days after the Arvind Kejriwal-led government in the national capital reimposed the ban on the manufacturing, sale, storage and use of all kinds of firecrackers in the city as part of an action plan to reduce pollution levels in winter.

The Delhi government has been following the practice of banning all kinds of firecrackers for the last three years. Speaking on the ban, Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai had said that there has been a considerable improvement in Delhi's air quality in the last five-six years. "We have seen a considerable improvement in Delhi's air quality in the last five-six years but we have to improve it further. Therefore, we have decided to ban firecrackers this year too," Rai said, as quoted by PTI.

On September 14, the court reserved its verdict and asked the city police not to issue temporary licences for sale and storage of any kind of firecrackers. As per PTI, the bench added that when the Delhi government has banned all firecrackers, no distinction can be made on the basis of whether those are green or not.