SC Permits Sale, Bursting of Green Crackers in Delhi-NCR on Diwali

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Wednesday allowed the sale and bursting of green firecrackers in Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR) during Diwali, with specific conditions. The court said green crackers could be used only during set hours on the day before Diwali and on the festival day itself, while their sale will be permitted from October 18 to 21.
A bench comprising Chief Justice B R Gavai and Justice K Vinod Chandran approved the joint request of the Centre and the Delhi government, saying a balanced approach was needed to allow festival celebrations without harming the environment. Police authorities have been directed to form patrolling teams to ensure that only certified crackers with QR codes are sold, and violations will be penalized. The use of firecrackers will be restricted to 6 AM to 7 AM and 8 PM to 10 PM on the day before Diwali and on Diwali day.
The court also barred online sales of firecrackers. It noted that previous total bans had led to smuggling of high-emission crackers, which caused more environmental damage. Data showed that the air quality index in NCR districts had not improved significantly under earlier bans, except during the COVID-19 lockdown when industrial and vehicular activity was minimal.
The order referred to the 2018 Arjun Gopal v. Union of India judgment, which introduced green crackers. Developed with help from the National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI), these eco-friendly crackers reduce emissions of particulate matter and harmful gases by up to 30 per cent. The bench said that green crackers have helped substantially in lowering pollution over the past six years.
The court also asked the Central Pollution Control Boards and state PCBs of NCR to monitor pollution levels during Diwali and submit reports. Patrolling teams will regularly check cracker manufacturers, and only crackers with approved QR codes can be sold. Crackers from outside Delhi-NCR are prohibited, and violators will face suspension of their licenses.
The court’s decision follows submissions by Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the Centre and NCR states, who argued that children should be allowed to burst crackers during festivals without strict timing restrictions. He said the blanket ban since 2018 had not led to significant improvements in air quality.
Sixteen districts in Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, and Rajasthan fall under the NCR along with Delhi.