SC Permits Green Crackers For Two Days In Delhi-NCR, Pg1

Key Highlights:

• The Supreme Court has permitted the conditional use of certified green firecrackers in Delhi-National Capital Region (NCR) for Deepavali on November 7 and 8.
• Bursting of these crackers is allowed only during specific hours: 6 a.m. to 7 a.m. and 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. on both days.
• A 300-meter radius around hospitals, nursing homes, health centers, old age homes, educational institutions, and notified silence zones will be designated as 'no-cracker zones'.
• Only manufacturers certified by CSIR-NEERI and PESO are permitted to produce green crackers, and these must carry product-specific QR codes.
• The court reiterated the ban on firecrackers joined in series ('ladis') and those containing barium.

Detailed Insights:

• The Supreme Court's decision balances the religious practice of bursting firecrackers with concerns for environmental pollution and public health.
• The court noted that unregulated firecracker use leads to a significant spike in the Air Quality Index (AQI) and releases harmful particulate matter.
• Justices M.M. Sundresh and Prasanna B. Varale emphasized that the right to practice religion (Article 25(1)) is subject to public order, morality, and health.
• The right to life (Article 21) includes the right to a healthy, safe, and pollution-free environment.
• The court criticized the State for its "utter failure" to comply with previous orders regarding firecracker restrictions since 2015.
• Manufacturers and traders in Delhi-NCR must furnish a monetary security, which can be forfeited for violations.
• The complete ban on firecrackers, as imposed earlier, will be restored from November 9, 2026.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Green Crackers: Firecrackers developed by CSIR-NEERI with modified chemical formulations to reduce particulate matter and gaseous emissions by at least 30% compared to conventional crackers.
• Air Quality Index (AQI): A scale from 0 to 500 that communicates how clean or polluted the air is, with higher values indicating greater health concern.
• Article 21 of the Indian Constitution: Guarantees the fundamental right to life and personal liberty, which the Supreme Court has interpreted to include the right to a healthy and pollution-free environment.
• Article 25(1) of the Indian Constitution: Guarantees freedom of conscience and the right to freely profess, practice, and propagate religion, subject to public order, morality, and health.
• CSIR-NEERI: The Council of Scientific and Industrial Research - National Environmental Engineering Research Institute, responsible for developing and certifying green crackers.
• PESO: The Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation, a regulatory body under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India, that controls and manages activities related to explosives and firecrackers.