"Complete ban on crackers neither practical nor ideal", says SC; Reserves order on green firecrackers

Just days before Diwali, the Supreme Court observed that a complete ban on firecrackers in Delhi-NCR is “neither practical nor ideal,” as such restrictions are often violated. The bench, led by Chief Justice B.R. Gavai and Justice K. Vinod Chandran, reserved its order on pleas seeking permission to manufacture and sell “green” firecrackers in the region.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the Centre and NCR states, urged the court to allow limited use of certified green firecrackers during festivals like Diwali, Gurpurab, and Christmas. He argued that pollution levels had remained largely unchanged despite the 2018 ban and that a balance between environmental concerns and livelihoods must be struck.

The court questioned whether the years of restrictions had led to any measurable improvement in air quality and suggested that “balancing of equities” was essential. The CJI remarked, “Despite a complete ban, firecrackers continue to be used. Extreme orders create problems.”

The bench also questioned why the ban was applied only in specific NCR districts and not across entire states. The order, once delivered, is expected to define how green firecrackers can be used under strict regulatory oversight by agencies like NEERI and PESO.