In a bid to curb air pollution, the Supreme Court of India imposed a partial ban on fireworks ahead of the festive season. A two-member bench declined to impose a complete ban on fireworks across the country, but put certain conditions on their sale and use on different occasions, including Diwali.
Considering widespread concerns about air pollution, the bench comprising Justices A K Sikri and Ashok Bhushan fixed a time window to use fireworks, a two-hour window between 8 to 10 pm on Diwali. They also gave a 45-minute window between 11:45 pm to 12:30 am on Christmas Eve and New Year.
Announcing the verdict, the apex court also specified that only “green crackers” — which have low smoke emission and permissible sound limits — can be sold through licensed traders. The court also said that e-commerce companies will be held in contempt of court if they listed traders who sell fireworks online.