There has been some softness in the Supreme Court’s stand on the production and sale of firecrackers in Delhi-NCR. The court has allowed the construction of green firecrackers in the NCR area. The court can take a decision on 8 October to allow sales with conditions. The court has asked the central government to talk to all the parties and find solutions on the sale of firecrackers in Delhi-NCR.
What is the matter?
Due to strict orders from the Supreme Court regarding air pollution, the Delhi government had imposed a complete ban on the construction, storage and sale of firecrackers this year. The UP and Haryana governments have imposed a similar ban for other cities of NCR. Institutions called Firework Traders Association, Indic Collective and Haryana Firework Manufacturers have challenged it. He says that many cracker traders had a valid license up to 2027-28. But they are being canceled due to previous orders of the court. The petitioners have also demanded that they be allowed to produce and sell green firecrackers. Whatever standards will be set for this, they will follow it.
‘Why only stop in Delhi?’
In the last hearing held on 12 September, the bench headed by Chief Justice Bhushan Ramakrishna Gavai had questioned why there is an order to stop firecrackers only for Delhi? The court had said that there should be a similar policy for the whole country. The court on the petition of cracker traders on the Air Quality Management Commission (Caqm) Was asked to file an answer.
What happened in court?
In hearing held on Friday, September 26 Caqm The report was kept in the court. It was reported in this report that the National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (Neeri) Has made a formula of low pollution green firecrackers based on old court orders. Petroleum and Explosive Safety Organization (Peso) Has licensed the producers who follow this formula. Last year, licensed producers were given QR codes. But it was seen that it has been misused. The QR code was also sold to other manufacturers.
Argument of cracker traders
Cracker traders said that they are ready to accept every condition imposed by the government or the court. If the government wants, there should be a surprise check anywhere from the place of production to the shops that sell. Where there is a shortage, action should be taken. But the complete ban is wrong. He also said that he should be allowed to produce at the moment because if the order of sales comes later, he will not be able to supply.
Amicus and government side
Senior advocate Aparajita Singh, who is assisting the court as amicus cururi in the case, said that there is no system to ensure the sale of green firecrackers. If they are allowed, the rest of the firecrackers will also start selling. Delhi and the central government said that they are not in favor of complete ban on firecrackers.
Court order
Chief Justice BR Gawai admitted that the ban on firecrackers has proved ineffective. Giving the example of Bihar, he said that when there was a ban on legitimate mining, the mafia doing illegal trade became active. The court said that Peso Cracker manufacturers of licensed NCR sector start production. But without his permission, firecrackers will not be sold in Delhi-NCR at the moment. The central government should talk to all the parties and discuss the sale of green firecrackers and came to the court with a solution on 8 October.