HYDERABAD: The Telangana high court on Thursday ordered a complete ban on selling and bursting firecrackers this Diwali and told the state government to ensure that all shops selling firecrackers are closed immediately across the state.
The bench of Chief Justice Raghvendra Singh Chauhan and Justice B Vijaysen Reddy also asked the government to appeal to the people to avoid bursting crackers. So far, seven states and one Union Territory have banned bursting and sale of firecrackers this year. Among them are Dehi, Maharashtra, West Bengal, Odisha, Rajasthan, Sikkim, Chandigarh and Haryana.
Besides, on November 9, the National Green Tribunal banned bursting firecrackers in all urban areas which had seen poor air quality in November last year. Hearing a PIL by advocate P Indra Prakash, the bench said that the state could not afford any activity that worsens air quality during the pandemic.
Prakash, in his plea, had contended that the novel coronavirus affects the lungs and plays havoc with other organs as well. He added that Diwali fireworks cause pollution which tends to hang in the air and could jeopardise the lives of those hit by Covid-19.
Advocate general B S Prasad told the court that the state government had not taken any policy decision on banning crackers. He also said that the government was optimistic that people would follow Covid-19 precautions while celebrating Diwali.
The bench, in its order, said that while festivals were important and may serve a social purpose, the lives of people were more important. The judges added that it was the duty of the state to ensure that the lives of the people are protected and promoted in a meaningful way.
“…considering the fact that the lives of the people need to be protected, considering the fact that uncontrolled and untrammelled use of fireworks may jeopardise the lives of many, this court directs the state to immediately ban the sale and use of fireworks by the people and by organisations,” the order read. “Inform us the steps taken by the authorities on November 19,” the bench said.