Supreme Court Questions Why Firecracker Ban Is Limited to Delhi-NCR

With the festival season approaching, the Supreme Court has questioned why restrictions on firecrackers apply only to Delhi and its surrounding areas while ignoring the rest of the country.

Chief Justice BR Gavai, during a hearing, remarked that the right to clean air belongs to all citizens, not just those in the National Capital Region. He noted that in cities like Amritsar, pollution levels can sometimes exceed those in Delhi. "If NCR residents are entitled to clean air, so are people living elsewhere," the CJI observed.

The Court has now issued a notice to the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) on a petition seeking a nationwide firecracker ban. Senior Advocate Aparajita Singh, appearing in support of the plea, pointed out that many elites avoid Delhi during peak pollution periods, leaving others to suffer worsening conditions.

Background: Previous Orders

• In December 2024, the Delhi government enforced a year-round ban on firecrackers.
• In January 2025, the Supreme Court extended this ban to NCR districts in Uttar Pradesh and Haryana.
• By April 2025, the Court confirmed that the ban applies year-round, with no exemptions for "green crackers."
• In May 2025, NCR states were directed to implement the order under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.

Why This Matters

If the Court moves towards a nationwide ban, states across India may be forced to impose similar restrictions, backed by legal penalties. Such a step could reshape how Diwali and other festivals are celebrated, placing clean air at the center of public health policy.