SC flags sale of firecrackers despite restrictions, asks Centre to ensure compliance

The Supreme Court on Tuesday asked the Centre to ensure strict enforcement of its firecracker restrictions in Delhi-NCR after a newspaper report highlighted the sale of different types of crackers in markets despite the court's directions.

A bench of Justices MM Sundresh and PB Varale took note of a Hindustan Times report showing that both licensed and unlicensed firecrackers were available in markets, including products with and without QR codes.

"Please look into it," the bench told Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati, expressing concern over the sale of firecrackers despite the restrictions in place.


Also Read: Delhi-NCR gets two days of green crackers as Supreme Court caps bursting at three hours a day and sets 300-metre no-cracker zones

The Supreme Court has allowed the sale and bursting of green firecrackers in Delhi-NCR on November 7 and 8 for Diwali, with bursting permitted only between 6 am and 7 am and from 8 pm to 10 pm.

In its October 29 order, which was made available on Monday, the court acknowledged that bursting firecrackers would add to pollution levels. However, it said there was not enough data to determine whether a complete ban would be the most effective way to address the problem.

The bench also expressed concern over the authorities' failure to properly enforce its earlier directions aimed at restricting firecracker use across the region.

It made clear that the complete ban on firecrackers would come back into force from November 9.

The court further prohibited the bursting of firecrackers within 300 metres of hospitals, nursing homes, primary and district health centres, old-age homes and notified silence zones.

These locations will be designated as 'no-cracker zones', with authorities directed to clearly mark the restricted areas on the ground and publicise them.

(With PTI inputs)