No Sale of Fire Crackers in Delhi-NCR with immediate effect: Supreme Court - (25 Nov 2016)

Environment

In an unprecedented move, the Supreme Court has ordered complete ban on the sale of fire crackers in Delhi and National capital region. The Order came in wake of recent alarming trends of rising pollution levels in and around Delhi with the beginning of winter season after Diwali. The Supreme Court has made it clear that religious and wedding celebrations are secondary to the basic Fundamental Right to breathe clean air under Article 21 of the Constitution of India.

The Bench headed by the Hon’ble Chief Justice of India, Hon’ble Justice A.K. Sikri and Justice S. A. Bobde has given directions to the Central Government to suspend all licences of fireworks in Delhi-NCR with immediate effect. The bench categorically held that, no such licence shall be granted or renewed till the further Orders of the Court. However, the ban is only on sale of fire crackers and there is no ban on bursting of crackers in Delhi -NCR. But the move will definitely have a punching effect as people will not be able to buy fire crackers in and around Delhi and only way left is to approach other states for individual purpose. Thus, the said step is a great Endeavour to curb rising levels of pollution.

The Supreme Court has also asked the Central Pollution Control Board to study and prepare a report reflecting as to what elements were used in the manufacturing of the firecrackers in order to ascertain if they were harmful to people. Earlier, the Supreme Court has banned the sale of diesel vehicles above 2000 cc for few months and came down heavily on manufacturers as well as on the government for failing to curb the pollution levels and subsequently allowed selling of such vehicles after imposing penalty on all subsequent sales in form of green tax. The Supreme Court has also affirmed various Orders passed by National Green Tribunal in recent past in respect of curbing air pollution. The National Green Tribunal has also taken various preventive steps in putting strict check on pollution and also directed the transport authorities of Delhi –NCR to de-register diesel vehicle above 10 years. In fact, in first phase, the transport authorities have already started de-registering all diesel vehicles above 15 years. The order banning sale fire-crackers in Delhi -NCR is another step towards curbing air pollution.

Tags : BAN CRACKERS SALE