The Supreme Court has permitted the bursting of certified green firecrackers in Delhi-NCR during specified hours on November 7 and 8, ahead of Diwali, while directing that the complete prohibition on firecrackers will come back into force from November 9, 2026.
A Bench of Justices M M Sundresh and Prasanna B Varale, in an order dated October 29 and made available on Monday, allowed green crackers to be used between 6 am and 7 am and again between 8 pm and 10 pm on the two permitted days.
Diwali falls on November 8 this year.
The Court also imposed restrictions on locations where fireworks may be used, prohibiting their bursting within 300 metres of hospitals, nursing homes, primary and district health centres, old-age homes and notified silence zones.
Complete Firecracker Ban to Resume From November 9
The Bench made clear that the temporary relaxation would end after November 8 and that the earlier complete ban on firecrackers would be restored with effect from November 9.
The permission is restricted to green crackers approved by the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research-National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (CSIR-NEERI).
The Court reiterated that firecrackers containing barium and those not approved as green crackers by CSIR-NEERI would remain prohibited.
It also barred the manufacture and sale of firecrackers connected in series, commonly known as ladis, and firecracker garlands.
Manufacturing Allowed Only for Certified Green Crackers
The Supreme Court permitted manufacturers holding valid certifications from CSIR-NEERI and the Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation (PESO) to produce approved green crackers between November 2 and November 6, 2026.
However, the permission applies only to varieties of green crackers listed on the official CSIR-NEERI website.
Manufacturers without the required certifications cannot claim the benefit of this relaxation.
Authorities Directed to Prevent Illegal Firecracker Supply
The Bench directed authorities across Delhi-NCR to take measures to prevent the entry and circulation of illegal and conventional firecrackers.
The restrictions require compliance with the prescribed timings, certification requirements and prohibited zones during the limited period of relaxation.
The order allows the use of approved green firecrackers during the specified hours on November 7 and 8, after which the complete ban will again apply across Delhi-NCR from November 9.
