No religion promotes pollution, why no total ban on firecrackers - Supreme Court
New Delhi, November 4:
The Supreme Court on Monday questioned the Centre and state governments over their failure to implement a total ban on firecrackers despite its earlier orders.A bench headed by Justice M.R. Shah said, "No religion promotes pollution."
The court was hearing a plea by advocate M.L. Sharma seeking a direction to the Centre and states to impose a total ban on the sale and use of firecrackers during Diwali and other festivals.
The bench also asked the Centre to file an affidavit on the steps taken to implement the ban on firecrackers.
The court posted the matter for further hearing on November 11.
In 2018, the Supreme Court had banned the sale of firecrackers in Delhi-NCR.
However, the ban was lifted in 2019 after the Centre told the court that it had come out with a new set of guidelines for the manufacture and sale of firecrackers.
The new guidelines allowed the sale of firecrackers with reduced emission levels.
However, the court had said that the ban on the sale of firecrackers in Delhi-NCR would continue.
The court had also directed the Centre and states to take steps to implement the ban effectively.
Despite the court's orders, firecrackers were sold and burst in Delhi-NCR during Diwali in 2019 and 2020.
The air quality in Delhi-NCR deteriorated significantly during Diwali in both years.
The court had expressed its displeasure over the failure of the authorities to implement the ban on firecrackers.
It had also said that the authorities were not taking the issue of air pollution seriously.
The court's observation on Monday is a clear indication that it is not satisfied with the steps taken by the Centre and states to implement the ban on firecrackers.
It is likely that the court will impose a stricter ban on firecrackers in the future.
