SC for taking call on perpetual ban on firecrackers in Delhi-NCR

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Monday asked the Delhi government and other authorities to take a call on the issue of imposing a perpetual ban on the use of firecrackers in Delhi, after reports suggested alarming rise of air pollution post-Diwali in the national capital.

A bench of Justices Abhay S Oka and Augustine George Masih also lamented the non-implementation of the firecracker ban in Delhi.

SC Seeks Immediate Action from Delhi Govt on Firecracker Ban Implementation

The court said it is apparent that its order was not implemented and also stubble burning increased around Diwali.

During the hearing in petition filed by M C Mehta, the bench said, "There are widespread news reports that the ban on firecrackers (in Delhi NCR) was not implemented at all, this was supposed to be an important measure to reduce pollution."

Delhi’s Alarming Post-Diwali Air Pollution Spurs Call for Perpetual Firecracker Ban

Emphasising at the need to develop a mechanism to ban the use of firecrackers, the bench said something has to be worked out at least for the next year to curb air pollution in 2025.

The court directed the Delhi government and Commissioner of Police, Delhi, to file affidavits to bring on record steps taken to implement the ban this year as well as future steps to ensure compliance with the ban next year within one week.

In the meanwhile, the government of Delhi and other authorities will also take a call on the issue of a perpetual ban on the use of firecrackers in Delhi, the bench said, hearing a matter arising out of a petition filed by M C Mehta.

In several parts of Delhi, the air quality breached the severe mark as PM 2.5 concentration levels soared, which resulted in hazardous conditions for respiratory health.

A report released by the CSE on Saturday, indicated that the peak concentration level of particulate matter (PM) 2.5 was 13% higher at midnight on Diwali this year compared to 2022 and 2023. It also found that PM 2.5 levels were 34% higher on Diwali this year than on the night of the festival in 2022, which was also an end-of-October celebration.

The bench said the report showed that the pollution level on this Diwali was all-time high and it was much higher than the Diwali of 2022 and 2023.

"Moreover, the report indicates that farm fires increased during Diwali days. We direct the Delhi government to file a detailed affidavit placing on record the orders banning the use of firecrackers and steps taken by the Delhi government to implement the same,” the bench said.

The court also directed the governments of Haryana and Punjab to file affidavits indicating the details of the number of instances of stubble burning during the last 10 days’ of October.

The court fixed the matter for further hearing on November 14.

As a counsel suggested the firecrackers ban should be extended during the upcoming wedding season in the next few months, the bench said, "That is what we propose to do but we just want to see what is the nature of order passed. We propose to do that. There are other festive occasions also…marriages, elections."