SC Pulls Up Delhi Govt, Top Cop Over 'Failed' Cracker Ban: 'Devise Plan At Least For Next Year'

The Supreme Court on Monday demanded an "immediate" response from the Delhi government and police regarding the firecracker ban during Diwali, which appears to be enforced only in theory.

This ban, though announced each year, is routinely ignored, leaving the capital and its surrounding areas blanketed in toxic smog for days following the celebrations.

The court issued notices to the Delhi government, led by the Aam Aadmi Party, and to the police, who report to the Union Home Minister, asking them to explain the steps taken to enforce this year's ban and provide a strategy to "enforce a complete ban" on firecrackers for future Diwalis.

"There are widespread news reports the ban on firecrackers (in Delhi NCR) was not implemented at all... this was supposed to be an important measure to reduce pollution," stated Justice Abhay S. Oka and Justice Augustine George Masih during an ongoing annual hearing into Delhi's persistent air quality crisis.

"What is the order (on banning of firecrackers)... how is it being implemented... something has to be worked out," the court questioned, urging the Delhi government to devise a plan "at least for next year" to prevent severe pollution levels from blanketing the city in 2025.

On Monday morning, Delhi's air quality index (AQI) dropped to the 'severe' category across the city, even four days post-Diwali, with readings surpassing the 400-mark (on a scale of 500) in several areas, including Anand Vihar, Rohini, Ashok Vihar, and Vivek Vihar.

Even affluent areas like Lodi Road could not escape the toxic air.

As of 7am, the 24-hour average AQI stood at 373, close to Sunday's season-high of 382. These numbers were recorded despite a 15 per cent drop in the contribution from farm fires, emphasising the severity of the pollution crisis.

The situation remained concerning across the NCR region, with AQI levels recorded at 305 in Noida, 295 in Ghaziabad, and 276 in Gurugram.

High AQI levels were also reported in neighbouring states, including 372 in Hisar (Haryana), and 397 and 320 in Sriganganagar and Bharatpur (Rajasthan), respectively.