The Supreme Court on Friday indicated that it may ease the curbs on bursting green firecrackers in the Delhi–National Capital Region (NCR) during Diwali, hinting at a move towards a more balanced regulatory approach ahead of the festive season.
A Bench of Chief Justice B.R. Gavai and Justice K. Vinod Chandran reserved its order on the matter, saying it would soon decide on relaxing the blanket ban earlier imposed on firecrackers in Delhi–NCR. “For the time being, we will permit the lifting of the ban during Diwali,” the Bench observed orally.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for Delhi–NCR and Haryana, requested the Court to allow limited use of certified green firecrackers during specified time slots — between 8 pm and 10 pm on Diwali, 11.45 pm and 12.30 am on Christmas and New Year’s Eve, and one hour on Gurpurab.
He said the suggestion aimed to adopt “a balanced approach” that respects both environmental concerns and citizens’ right to celebrate.
The Solicitor General assured the Court that PESO (Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation) and NEERI (National Environmental Engineering Research Institute) would carry out periodic inspections to ensure that only authorised green crackers are produced and marketed.
He added that joint or ladi firecrackers would continue to remain banned, and that all sales should be confined to licensed traders dealing exclusively in approved green variants.
Mehta further proposed that e-commerce websites such as Amazon and Flipkart be barred from accepting and processing online orders for firecrackers. “Manufacturers must also specify the composition and quantity on every green firecracker package,” he added.
Amicus Curiae Aparajita Singh, assisting the Court in the matter, expressed concern about “fake green firecrackers” still being sold under misleading labels and containing banned chemicals. She emphasised that any relaxation should come with strict enforcement mechanisms to prevent violations.
The Bench also inquired whether air quality levels (AQI) in NCR had shown any improvement since 2018. Mehta responded that overall pollution levels remained largely unchanged, except for a brief improvement during the COVID-19 lockdown period.
On September 26, the Court had permitted the manufacture of green firecrackers in Delhi, while maintaining the ban on their sale in the NCR.
The case arises from a long-standing petition concerning air pollution in the national capital and adjoining areas, where the Court has been monitoring measures to reduce environmental hazards linked to festive fireworks.