The Supreme Court allowed residents to burst green firecrackers on November seven and eight. The permission covers Diwali eve and festival day, subject to hours fixed by judges. A bench of Justices MM Sundresh and Prasanna B Varale announced its decision Monday. Residents may burst approved crackers from six until seven each morning on both days. They may use them between eight and ten in the evening on those dates. The court rejected complete ban but retained strict limits on firecracker use across Delhi. It emphasised that authorities must enforce every direction rather than merely issue formal orders. The bench warned that weak implementation would undermine the purpose of its annual directions. The judges stressed that pollution affects people, animals, and other living beings across Delhi. They called for public cooperation and greater awareness about firecracker-related environmental and health risks. They urged officials to monitor compliance closely throughout the permitted celebration periods across Delhi.
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Supreme Court Sets Timings and Restrictions for Green Firecracker Use During Diwali
The court prohibited firecracker use within three hundred metres of sensitive institutions and locations. These places include hospitals, nursing homes, primary health centres, and district health centres. Old-age homes and officially notified silence zones also fall under this restriction during celebrations. Authorities must treat educational institutions as designated no-cracker zones during the permitted period. They must install clear signs and issue public announcements explaining these restrictions to residents. Such measures should help residents identify areas where firecracker use remains strictly prohibited locally. The bench expects local authorities to communicate the rules before Diwali celebrations begin promptly. Officials must remain present on the ground and supervise compliance during the celebrations closely. The court said regulations require cooperation from government agencies, residents, and other relevant stakeholders. It suggested involving prominent personalities, including sportspersons, in public awareness campaigns across Delhi-NCR. Those campaigns should explain the health and environmental consequences of bursting firecrackers during festivals.
At an earlier court hearing, the bench declined to impose a complete firecracker ban. However, the judges warned authorities against treating repeated court directions as mere empty formalities. They told Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati officials must enforce restrictions seriously on the ground. The bench acknowledged public sentiment but cautioned against forcing the court towards stricter restrictions. It said annual efforts to balance competing concerns require cooperation from everyone involved. The judges called for responsible officers to monitor restrictions directly on the ground closely. An advocate assisting the court highlighted dangers posed by conventional firecrackers during public celebrations. She said fireworks release hazardous particles that can enter bodies and damage vital organs. She also raised concerns about Delhi-NCR’s air quality during recent Dussehra celebrations last week. According to her submission, the Air Quality Index rose sharply during that period. She questioned whether authorities could reliably verify manufacturers’ claims about green firecrackers in local markets.
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Court Stresses Strict Enforcement, Public Awareness and Cooperation to Curb Pollution
The hearing examined whether sellers actually provide green firecrackers instead of conventional products. The assisting advocate cited reports alleging sellers marketed ordinary crackers as environmentally safer alternatives. She questioned the absence of a reliable system for checking manufacturers’ product claims publicly. Senior advocate Gopal Sankaranarayanan represented petitioners seeking stronger restrictions on firecracker-related activities across Delhi-NCR. He argued that people repeatedly violated earlier Supreme Court directions despite existing restrictions. He urged the bench to prohibit firecracker manufacturing rather than rely on limited controls. The court heard two petitions concerning pollution and firecracker regulation across the Delhi-NCR region. One matter involves the court’s own proceedings on regional air pollution and its causes. That case covers firecrackers, stubble burning, and solid waste management issues across the region. The second petition specifically seeks a ban on firecracker manufacturing throughout the national capital region. Together, these matters place enforcement, public health, and pollution control before the Supreme Court.
During the hearing, the Centre outlined preparations to address Delhi’s winter pollution season. Bhati informed the bench that Delhi’s government had prepared a comprehensive action plan for winter. The plan includes restrictions on older vehicles and controls on construction and demolition activities. Officials proposed staggered office timings to reduce pollution across the national capital region. Bhati said several measures would begin operating from November as pollution levels typically rise. The Centre reported ongoing consultations about using barium in firecracker compositions across the country. Bhati requested three weeks to complete those discussions and present the outcome to the judges. The court agreed to consider the barium issue after receiving consultation results from officials. Last October, the Supreme Court conditionally permitted green crackers during specified Diwali hours in Delhi-NCR. It described that relaxation as a test case and limited permission to designated dates. The latest order combines restricted celebrations with enforcement and pollution-control responsibilities for public authorities.
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