Supreme Court bans firecrackers in Delhi and NCR

In the wake of alarming air pollution, the Supreme Court bench led by Chief Justice of India T S Thakur imposed a ban on sale, stocking as well as possession of crackers in a substantive quantity in the Delhi and NCR region until further notice. The Court has also asked the central government to immediately suspend all licences of fireworks in Delhi-NCR till further orders. Further, the Supreme Court has asked the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) to study and file a reply within three months regarding the harmful effects of firecrackers.

The order was issued in response to a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by three toddlers, aged between 3 and 14 months, who, through their parents have prayed for the complete prohibition of bursting of firecrackers in Delhi and NCR region. Post Diwali, pollution reached hazardous levels in the national capital region. It increased 15 times the safe limit. Apart from crackers, post-harvest stubble burning by the farmers of the nearby states have also been partly blamed for the increase in pollution. The Supreme Court has ordered the union and the respective state governments to chalk out an immediate plan to tackle the menace of air pollution in the affected region.