SC to pronounce its verdict on firecracker sale in Delhi-NCR

The Supreme Court will pronounce today its verdict on the issue whether firecrackers will be sold in the Delhi-National Capital Region (NCR) during the upcoming festive season of Diwali. 

A bench headed by Justice AK Sikri had on 6 th October reserved its order on a plea seeking restoration of the apex court’s last year order banning the sale of firecrackers in Delhi-NCR. 

The top court, through its 11th November order last year, had suspended all licences which permit sale of fireworks, wholesale and retail within the territory of NCR. 

Later, on 12th September, the apex court had temporarily lifted its earlier



order and permitted sale of firecrackers.During the hearing on the plea seeking restoration of last year’s order, the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) had told the bench that they support the application. 

The apex court had last month temporarily lifted its earlier order suspending licences for sale of fire crackers, saying a complete ban would be an extreme step and a graded approach was needed to curb pollution caused by them.

The court, however, had said its order lifting the ban on sale of fire crackers might require a review after Diwali depending on the ambient air quality after the festival.