New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday permitted the sale and bursting of certified green firecrackers in Delhi-NCR for a limited period ahead of Diwali, allowing their use on November 7 and 8 under strict conditions.
A bench of Justices M M Sundresh and Prasanna B Varale directed that firecrackers can be burst only between 6 am and 7 am and again from 8 pm to 10 pm on both days. Diwali will be celebrated on November 8 this year.
The court clarified that the relaxation would remain temporary, with the complete ban on firecrackers in Delhi-NCR coming back into force from November 9.
Under the directions, only green firecrackers certified by the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research-National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (CSIR-NEERI) and approved by the Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation (PESO) will be permitted.
The court also imposed restrictions on the locations where fireworks can be used. Bursting firecrackers will be prohibited within a 300-metre radius of hospitals, nursing homes, primary and district health centres, old-age homes, educational institutions and notified silence zones. These areas will be designated and publicised as ‘No-Cracker Zones’.
The bench further prohibited the manufacture and sale of firecrackers joined in series, commonly known as ‘ladis’ or garlands. Crackers containing barium and products that do not carry CSIR-NEERI approval will also remain prohibited.
Manufacturers holding valid certifications from CSIR-NEERI and PESO have been permitted to produce approved green firecrackers between November 2 and November 6. Authorities have also been directed to prevent the circulation of conventional and unauthorised firecrackers in the region.
The court’s order comes amid continuing concerns over air pollution in Delhi-NCR, particularly during the winter months when deteriorating air quality remains a major public health concern.
The limited relaxation seeks to accommodate Diwali celebrations while retaining restrictions on the type, timing and location of firecracker use. However, the wider prohibition will resume immediately after the two-day permitted window.
