The Supreme Court on Tuesday clarified that the order banning firecrackers containing barium binds every state and is not just limited to Delhi-NCR region. The clarification by the Supreme Court, which had in 2018 banned the bursting of conventional firecrackers to curb air and sound pollution, will have ramifications across the nation. A bench of Justices A.S. Bopanna and M.M. Sundresh asked the Rajasthan government to comply with its earlier directions on bursting of firecrackers during Diwali.
The bench further observed that “Sensitising common people about the harmful effects of firecrackers is the key. Ironically, now-a-days children do not burst many firecrackers but elders do. It is a wrong perception that it is the duty of the court when it comes to pollution and environment protection. People have to come forward. It is for everyone to manage air and sound pollution,” it added.
The bench also sought the response of the India Meteorological Department (IMD) on stubble burning, after it was told that farm fires in states adjoining Delhi were affecting air quality in the national capital. The top court was hearing an intervention application filed in a pending petition seeking a ban on firecrackers. The application sought directions to the Rajasthan government to take steps to check air and sound pollution and impose a ban on firecrackers in Udaipur city during Diwali and weddings.
The top court, while keeping the application pending, said, “…no specific orders are required to be passed in the application as the court has passed several orders to check air and sound pollutants. The said orders bind every state including Rajasthan and the state government should take note of it not only during the festive season but thereafter.”
Meanwhile, Senior advocate Manish Singhvi, who appeared for the Rajasthan government, said the state has filed its reply to the application and conceded that there was marginal spike in air and sound pollution during Diwali.
Sighvi urged the court to allow bursting of firecrackers in Rajasthan for three hours between 8 pm and 11 pm instead of 8 pm to 10 pm during Diwali and other festivals. Senior advocate Gopal Sankaranarayanan, who appeared for the main petitioner Arjun Gopal, said if relaxation was granted to one state, the court will be flooded with applications from other states. However, the bench agreed with Sankaranarayanan’s submission.
Then Justice Bopanna observed, “There will be no reduction in pollution by extending the deadline by one hour or reducing it by one hour. They will burst whatever they have bought.”
Justice Sundresh told Singhvi, “Celebrations can be done if you share what you have. If you pollute the environment, you are being selfish and self-centric. Accountability needs to be fixed on those who pollute the environment. Educating and sensitising people is more important. We are quite sure it can never be completely stopped unless people do it themselves. As is rightly said, we live on hope.” On September 22, the top court had rejected petitions filed by firecracker manufacturers seeking permission for manufacture and sale of firecrackers containing barium and joined fireworks (series crackers or laris) as per new standards. It reiterated its 2018 ban and directions on bursting conventional firecrackers to curb pollution.
