New Delhi: The SC has refused to lift the ban on firecrackers in the national capital as the festival of Diwali nears. The apex court on 10th October refused to accord an urgent hearing of the plea submitted by BJP MP Manoj Tiwari against an order banning the storage, production, and use of all types of firecrackers in Delhi until January 1st.
Mr. Tiwari’s lawyer, Shashank Shekar Jha, today mentioned the plea for an urgent hearing during the lunch break but the court again declined the request, saying, “Spend your money on sweets… Let people breathe clean air.” Technically, the court clubbed the BJP MP’s petition with some others already pending.
The HC which heard the plea on October 18th also refused to hear a plea challenging the ban till January 1, noting that similar petitions are pending before the Supreme Court.
The AAP govt has reinstated the 2021 policy of firecrackers under which no sale, production, or storage of firecrackers was allowed. At a press conference on Wednesday, Environment Minister announced a fine of Rs 200 and a jail term of 5 years for violation of the blanket ban imposed.