New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Wednesday declined to impose a complete ban on firecrackers, instead favouring a regulated approach that would allow permitted varieties to be used during specified hours around Diwali.
A bench headed by Justice MM Sundresh said the court would neither support a blanket ban nor permit firecrackers to be used throughout the day. It stressed the need to balance the emotional and cultural aspects associated with the festival with the impact of noise and pollution on elderly people, patients and children.
The bench said a solution would have to be worked out by fixing specific hours for the use of firecrackers and determining which varieties could be permitted.
The court was hearing a matter arising from proceedings initiated in 2015, through which restrictions had been imposed on the use of firecrackers between October and January in Delhi and other states affected by air pollution.
In October 2025, the Supreme Court had relaxed restrictions in Delhi-NCR for Diwali and allowed the use of green crackers on the festival day.
CPCB report on barium-based crackers awaited
The bench asked the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) to consider whether restrictions on firecrackers could be eased. It said the permitted varieties would be determined after the CPCB submits a report on the impact of barium-based firecrackers.
Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati sought time until October 15 to place the CPCB report on barium-based firecrackers on record, noting that their external testing was yet to be completed.
The bench also indicated that it was inclined to accept a suggestion to permit the manufacture of composite firecrackers, including series or ladis in which individual crackers are connected by a common fuse and burst sequentially.
During the hearing, one lawyer raised concerns over a possible rise in pollution levels in Delhi in the coming months due to firecrackers and stubble burning.
The bench, however, made it clear that it would not allow unrestricted use of firecrackers and would examine whether their use could be permitted during specific time windows.
