Supreme Court allows sale, bursting of green firecrackers in Delhi-NCR during Diwali

The Supreme Court relaxed its earlier blanket ban on firecrackers in the Delhi-NCR region and permitted the sale and use of NEERI-approved green firecrackers for a limited period from 18 to 20 October. The Court stipulated strict timings — bursting allowed only between 6 am–7 am and 8 pm–10 pm on the day before Diwali and on Diwali itself — to mitigate pollution. Sale is restricted to designated licensed traders, QR-coded products only, and e-commerce sale is prohibited. The Court observed that a complete ban tends to encourage smuggling of conventional crackers with worse emissions, and that green crackers over the years have shown emission reductions. The judgment attempts a balance between environmental protection and cultural celebration, emphasizing strict enforcement and regulatory oversight to ensure compliance.