No Outright Ban on Firecrackers, Only Green Crackers will be Sold: SCJust In

October 23, 2018 16:29
No Outright Ban on Firecrackers, Only Green Crackers will be Sold: SC

(Image source from: News18.com)

The Supreme Court on Tuesday said that only green firecrackers with reduced discharge and decibel levels will be allowed during all religious festivals.

On Diwali, firecrackers could be burst between 8 p.m. and 10 p.m., the court said. Likewise, on New Year's Eve, firecrackers will be permitted for one hour - from 11.45 p.m. to 12.45 a.m., - reported Livelaw.

The move comes after the Supreme Court order earlier this year which imposed an absolute ban on firecrackers in the national capital region.

A bench of Justice A.K. Sikri and Justice Ashok Bhushan banned the bursting of firecrackers that do not adapt to the green norms that would apply all the year round. The rules would be applicable to marriage festivities as well.

The court said that the authorities would identify common community areas for the bursting of firecrackers and ensure the people made aware of these.

The court said that the police station chiefs would be personally responsible for ensuring the compliance of its order. If the order is not complied with, the area police chief would be liable for contempt of court, the bench said.

The petition had been filed by three kid petitioners, whose lawyer sought a complete ban on the sale of firecrackers.

As part of the hearing, the Court as well banned the online sale of firecrackers. Any e-commerce portal selling firecrackers will be slapped with a contempt notice, the court said. The court likewise banned strung and joined firecrackers called 'laddi'. Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) counsel Vijay Panjwani described the order as a "balanced one".

However, the lawyers who were pressing for a complete ban on the firecrackers said the court order would be hard to implement for obvious practical reasons.

During the course of the hearing, the apex court had said that it would also take into account the fundamental right of livelihoods of those who manufacture firecrackers and the right to health of the people of the country.

-Sowmya Sangam

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Firecrackers ban  Diwali  Supreme Court