SC suggests Virat Kohli for pollution awareness campaign amid firecracker ban row

A Supreme Court bench of Justices MM Sundresh and Prasanna B Varale called for a new and innovative approach to tackling pollution, observing that its annual orders had become almost academic as violations continued. The judges stressed the need to raise awareness, particularly among the younger generation, and suggested involving influential personalities such as Virat Kohli to drive the message home.

Petitioner Gopal Sankaranarayanan told the court that the government was seeking two weeks to complete its consultation process even as



firecrackers continued to be sold and transported without any restrictions.

The Supreme Court will hear the issue of permissible barium content in firecrackers after Diwali. It is also examining other issues concerning firecrackers that contribute to pollution.

Uttara Babbar, appearing for petitioner Arjun Gopal, said firecrackers bearing green-cracker labels were being sold in the market, but the labels were misleading. She said there was no reliable mechanism or QR code to verify whether the products were genuine green crackers.