The Supreme Court on Wednesday permitted the sale and bursting of green crackers in Delhi and the adjoining NCR region from October 18 to 21. The court said firecrackers can be burst only between 6 am and 7 am, and 8 pm and 10 pm, on two days — the day before Diwali and on the day of the festival.
A bench of Chief Justice of India B.R. Gavai and Justice K. Vinod Chandran passed the order while hearing the Delhi government’s plea seeking permission to use certified green firecrackers during Diwali in the national capital.
According to the Supreme Court, there must be a “balanced approach” between celebrating festivities and protecting the environment. “We have to take a balanced approach, permitting the bursting of green firecrackers in moderation while not compromising the environment,” the bench said.
The apex court directed that no firecrackers from outside Delhi-NCR shall be allowed in the region. It added that if fake firecrackers are found, the seller’s licence will be suspended. Only crackers certified by the National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI) as green firecrackers will be permitted, it said.
The court also prohibited the sale of firecrackers through e-commerce websites.
The CJI Gavai-led bench directed that notices be issued to violators and asked the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and state pollution boards to monitor air and water quality during the period. The authorities have been asked to submit a report on the impact of fireworks on Delhi’s air quality for the period from October 14 to 21.
The bench also took note of the Delhi government’s October 14, 2024, order imposing a blanket ban on firecrackers, later extended to the entire NCR. It said the approach needed to be re-examined in light of public sentiment and enforcement realities.