The Supreme Court on Tuesday asked the Centre to look into reports of unauthorised firecrackers being sold in Delhi markets despite judicial restrictions on their sale and use during Diwali.
A Bench of Justices M.M. Sundresh and Prasanna B. Varale took note of a newspaper report published on November 3, which alleged that both certified and uncertified firecrackers remained readily available in several markets across the national capital.
During the hearing, Justice Sundresh brought the report to the attention of Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati and asked her to examine the allegations. He specifically referred to claims that vendors were selling different categories of firecrackers, including products without the mandatory QR codes required for certification.
The Court’s observations came a day after it issued directions regulating the sale and use of green firecrackers in Delhi-NCR.
Supreme Court’s Restrictions on Firecracker Sales
Under its November 2 order, the Supreme Court permitted the sale of certified green firecrackers in Delhi-NCR between November 4 and 6. Their use is allowed only on November 7 and 8, during two specified periods: 6 am to 7 am and 8 pm to 10 pm.
The Court directed that a complete prohibition on firecrackers would come back into force from November 9.
The order allows only firecrackers certified by the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research-National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (CSIR-NEERI) and the Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation (PESO) to be manufactured and sold.
It also requires sales to take place exclusively at designated locations and prohibits online transactions.
Each firecracker box must display a product-specific QR code enabling verification of its certification. The manufacture of firecracker strings, commonly called laris, and products containing barium remains prohibited.
Reports of Uncertified Crackers Being Sold Across Delhi
The November 3 newspaper report cited by the Bench described alleged violations in Chandni Chowk, Sadar Bazaar, Shastri Nagar, Sarojini Nagar and New Friends Colony.
The findings were based on market visits conducted on October 22 and November 2.
According to the report, traders were openly displaying firecrackers marketed as green, pollution-free or zero-pollution products. However, conventional firecrackers were allegedly available to customers who specifically requested them.
The report also raised questions about the authenticity of certification labels. Some packages reportedly lacked QR codes altogether, while others carried codes directing customers to online product catalogues rather than certification verification pages.
In certain markets, vendors allegedly concealed conventional firecrackers from public display but supplied them upon request.
Court Had Earlier Flagged Enforcement Failures
The Supreme Court is considering several applications concerning restrictions on the manufacture, distribution and bursting of firecrackers in Delhi-NCR in connection with air pollution concerns.
While issuing its November 2 directions, the Court acknowledged shortcomings in the implementation of earlier restrictions.
It observed that blanket prohibitions had failed to prevent the unlawful sale and bursting of conventional firecrackers. The Court also referred to allegations that prohibited products were being marketed as certified green crackers.
Against this background, the Bench asked the Centre to take note of the fresh allegations regarding continued firecracker sales in Delhi markets.
