Supreme Court Questions Why Firecracker Ban Applies Only to Delhi-NCR; Full Details Of The Courtroom Exchange

The Supreme Court on Friday, September 12 asked why the year-long firecracker ban is restricted only to Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR). The court observed that if the aim is to ensure clean air, citizens across the country deserve the same protection.

A bench headed by Chief Justice of India (CJI) Bhushan R Gavai, along with Justice K Vinod Chandran, issued notices while hearing applications from firecracker manufacturers challenging the ban. The CJI questioned, “If citizens in NCR are entitled to pollution-free air, why not people in other cities?” He pointed out that pollution is not limited to Delhi.

The Chief Justice recalled visiting the Golden Temple in Amritsar last winter and being told that pollution levels there were worse than in Delhi. He added, “Just because Delhi is the capital city and the Supreme Court is situated here, should citizens in other cities not get pollution-free air?”

Firecracker Traders Challenge the Ban

The case was brought by the Association of Firework Traders, Indic Collective, and Haryana Firework Manufacturers. They argued that the livelihood of many families depends on the firecracker industry. Senior advocates Dama Sesadari Naidu and K. Parameshwar said the Supreme Court had refused to change its ban on April 3 and that even green cracker formulations developed by experts had not been considered by the Centre and the National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI).

The traders also said that because of the court’s earlier orders, their licenses, valid until 2027–28, are now being revoked. They requested the court for an urgent hearing before the upcoming Dussehra and Diwali festivals.

Ban Should Not Be Delhi-Specific, Says Bench

The bench made it clear that any policy on firecrackers must be consistent across India. “Whatever policy on banning firecrackers is there, it should be pan-India. We cannot have a special policy for Delhi, where the elites are. If firecrackers are to be banned, they should be banned throughout the country,” the bench said.

The court directed state authorities to maintain the current status quo and scheduled the matter for hearing on September 22.

Centre and NEERI Asked to Present Green Cracker Report

The bench asked the Centre, in consultation with NEERI, to submit a detailed response and an updated status report on the formulation of green crackers. Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati, appearing for the Centre, assured the court that any green cracker formulation would be prepared in consultation with experts and agreed to share NEERI’s latest research.

Delhi’s Severe Pollution

Senior advocate Aparajita Singh, assisting the court as amicus, explained that the court’s decision for a year-round ban in Delhi-NCR was due to the region’s severe air quality, especially during winter. She said Delhi’s landlocked geography worsens pollution levels.

She also pointed out that the city’s elite often escape the worst days of pollution by leaving Delhi, while ordinary citizens suffer. Singh reminded the court that when emergency measures like construction bans were imposed earlier, the court ensured compensation for workers who lost wages.

Poor Bear the Brunt of Ban, Court Notes

The bench observed that while bans on construction or firecrackers aim to reduce pollution, it is often the poor who suffer most, losing work and income. The judges agreed to re-examine the matter on September 22, before the festive season begins.

The year-round ban on bursting, selling, and manufacturing firecrackers in Delhi-NCR has been in place since December 2024. In April, the Supreme Court had called the ban “absolutely essential” given the region’s “horrible” air quality. Following Delhi’s decision, neighboring states, including Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, and Rajasthan, extended the ban to their NCR districts.