Ban on firecrackers to be permanent, SC told

On Nov 11, the court had asked Delhi and NCR states to decide on a permanent ban on firecrackers in the interest of citizens who have a right to breathe clean air.

- Abraham Thomas

NEW DELHI: The Delhi government has decided to ban firecrackers throughout the year in the Capital, and will file a response in this regard in the Supreme Court before it takes up the issue next week.

The top court was informed of the decision taken by the Delhi government during a hearing related to a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by lawyer and activist MC Mehta about monitoring air pollution in the city.

On November 11, the top court asked Delhi and national capital region (NCR) states Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and Rajasthan to decide on a permanent ban on firecrackers in the interest of citizens who have a right to breathe clean air.

On Thursday, senior advocate Shadan Farasat, appearing for the Delhi government, said: "We will be doing it permanently. An in-principle decision has been taken. By the next date, the affidavit by the government will be there before the court."

To this, the bench of justices Abhay S Oka and Augustine George Masih responded, "This is the requirement not only to curb air pollution but noise pollution as well," and asked the other NCR states to clarify their stand by the next hearing on December 19.