A Supreme Court bench, led by Chief Justice of India Bhushan R. Gavai, and Justice K. Vinod Chandran, approved the limited sale and use of green firecrackers in Delhi-NCR on Wednesday, to be used at designated times between October 18 and 21 from 6-7 am or 8-10 pm. The bench also described the arrangement as a limited. It described the arrangement as a ‘temporary mechanism’ or ‘balanced approach’ to accommodate celebration and customs – religious or others – while taking care of environment.
The bench emphasized that this measure is an experiment to see if regulated celebrations and anti-pollution initiatives can exist side by side. It further directed the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and state pollution boards to monitor levels of both water quality and air quality during this period. Pollution levels are to be duly recorded and submitted in a detailed report between October 14 and 21.
Chief Justice Gavai noted that the prohibition of illegal and smuggled firecrackers causes much more pollution and other harm than certified green firecrackers, and emphasised the necessity of limited allowances rather than a blanket prohibition. The bench also referred to its previous judgement in 2018 of Arjun Gopal vs Union of India where guidelines for green firecrackers were first discussed, and noted that those guidelines had not changed in validity.
The court also took note of the October 14, 2024, ban imposed by the Delhi government.
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