In response to escalating air pollution levels, the Supreme Court on Friday labeled the situation as “drastic” and called for equally severe measures, directing the Uttar Pradesh and Haryana governments to implement a complete ban on firecrackers in their National Capital Region (NCR) territories.
A bench comprising Justices A S Oka and Ujjal Bhuyan highlighted the urgent need for stringent regulations, mirroring actions already taken by Delhi and Rajasthan. The latter has enforced a perpetual ban on the sale and bursting of firecrackers within its NCR districts, a measure the court seeks to see replicated by neighboring states.
Until Uttar Pradesh and Haryana formalize such bans, the Supreme Court’s previous directive to prohibit firecrackers will remain in effect, with a follow-up hearing scheduled for March 24. “The environmental problems are drastic ones, and so drastic measures are needed,” remarked the bench during the session.
The justices expressed frustration with the lack of proactive steps from other government branches concerning environmental protection, suggesting the necessity for the judiciary to pass stringent orders to compel compliance and action.
The court is also set to hear petitions from firecracker manufacturers on the next hearing date, who argue that the bans infringe on their fundamental rights. However, the bench prioritized environmental concerns over these arguments, stating, “The environmental problems come ahead of their issues.”
One lawyer appealed for consideration of green crackers as a compromise, prompting the court to express skepticism about their environmental impact. “We have to examine how green are green crackers,” the bench noted, indicating a cautious approach towards alternatives that may still contribute to pollution.
Additionally, the Supreme Court has requested a response from the central government regarding the pleas from firecracker-manufacturing firms, highlighting the ongoing legal and environmental debate surrounding firecracker bans in the region.
Previously, the court had urged Uttar Pradesh and Haryana to align with Delhi’s comprehensive firecracker ban, which includes manufacturing, storage, sale, and online distribution, to ensure a uniform approach across the NCR. This directive followed significant pollution spikes in Delhi during Diwali, which have historically exacerbated the capital’s air quality issues.
