A child bursts firecrackers while celebrating ‘Diwali’ in New Delhi. File | Photo credit: PTI
The Delhi government on Thursday informed the Supreme Court that it has imposed an “all-encompassing, permanent” ban on crackers with immediate effect.
Appearing in the bench presided over by Justice AS Oka, Senior Advocate Shadan Farasat for Delhi said that the order was issued on December 19 by the Principal Secretary, Ministry of Environment, Government of Delhi as per the order of the Supreme Court.
“We have banned it (firecrackers) … it is permanent, ubiquitous,” Mr Farasat said.
The senior counsel said that the statutory order of prohibition was passed under Section 5 of the Environment Protection Act, 1986.
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“The state government has completely banned the manufacture, storage, sale, including delivery through online marketing platforms, and bursting of all types of firecrackers in the National Capital Territory of Delhi,” the Supreme Court recorded. in its order.
A lawyer for the Delhi government said its ban would be truly effective only if other National Capital Region (NCR) states of Rajasthan, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh implement similar measures.
Complaints of merchants
Meanwhile, advocate Rohini Musa, appearing for 150 pataka traders in Delhi, said the Supreme Court has directed the Delhi government to take a call on the issue after consulting them. “There was no consultation, nothing,” Ms Musa submitted to the court.
The hearing saw Rajasthan submit that through an order dated December 17, 2024, it had imposed a similar ban in its areas that are part of NCR.
This left the court to focus on Uttar Pradesh and Haryana. “We direct Uttar Pradesh and Haryana to impose restrictions like Delhi,” the court ordered.
Earlier hearings had seen the Supreme Court pressure the NCR states to impose a perennial ban on the production, sale and flourishing of firecrackers in the region in a strong bid to reduce not only air pollution but also noise pollution.
published – December 20, 2024 at 12:43 pm IST