New Delhi: Firecrackers will not be sold in Delhi and NCR region during Diwali this year with the Supreme Court banning their sale till November 1, dealing a body blow to the traders and businessmen engaged in their sale. The apex court said its last month’s order, temporarily lifting the stay and permitting sale of firecrackers, would be made effective only from November one, 12 days after the ‘festival of lights’.
The top court also ordered “forthwith” suspension of temporary licences issued by the police for sale of firecrackers pursuant to the order of September 12. A bench headed by Justice A K Sikri said that the November 11, 2016, order suspending the licences “should be given a chance to test itself” to see if there would be a positive impact of this, particularly during Diwali. ‘’
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The court, in its last year’s direction, had suspended all firework sale licenses, wholesale and retail, within the territory of NCR till further orders. The apex court in 2005 had also directed that there should be a complete ban on bursting sound-emitting firecrackers between 10 PM and 6 AM.
While referring to the air pollution levels in Delhi-NCR during and immediately after Diwali last year, the apex court observed that due to the adverse effects of burning of fire crackers, “the air quality deteriorates abysmally and alarmingly and the city chokes thereby”.
The bench said that further orders on this issue can be passed after assessing the situation that would emerge after this Diwali season. The top court observed that the adverse effects of firecrackers during Diwali have been witnessed year after year and, last year, it had led to the closing of schools in Delhi and the authorities were compelled to take various measures on emergent basis when faced with ‘health emergency’ situation.
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The bench noted in its order that there was direct evidence of deterioration of air quality at alarming levels, which happens every year during Diwali. “As already pointed out above, burning of these fire crackers during Diwali in 2016 had shot up PM (particulate matter) levels by three times, making Delhi the worst city in the world, insofar as air pollution is concerned. Direct and immediate cause thereof was burning of crackers during Diwali,” the bench said.
It also said that every year before Diwali, there were attempts on the part of government, media, NGOs and various other groups to create awareness among general public about the ill-effects of bursting of these firecrackers. “Thus, there is virtually a consensus in the society that crackers should not be burnt during Diwali, which can be celebrated with equal fervour by various other means as well,” it said.
