New Delhi: The Delhi High Court on Monday (October 21) said that it will not allow sale of firecrackers in the national capital where there is already enough pollution.
Justice Sanjeev Narula said this while hearing a plea filed by the ‘Delhi Fireworks Shopkeepers Association’, a group of traders having a permanent licence to possess and sell crackers.
An immediate ban until January 1 was imposed by Delhi Government on September 14
An immediate ban until January 1 was imposed by the Delhi Government on September 14 on the production, storage, sale, and use of all kinds of firecrackers across the city. This is part of Delhi Government’s series of measures to tackle air pollution in the city,
“There will be a complete ban on all kinds of firecrackers on manufacturing, storage, selling (including delivery through online marketing platforms) and bursting of all kinds of firecrackers up to 01.01.2025 in the territory of NCT of Delhi,” an order issued by the Delhi Pollution Control Committee said and asked the Delhi Police to implement the ban order strictly and submit action taken reports on a daily basis.
What did the traders tell the High Court?
The counsel representing the petitioner association told the court that traders’ grievance was with respect to ban on the storage of firecrackers, which was allegedly resulting in harassment. The counsel further said that even though there were no sale of firecrackers by its members, the police started visiting the permanent licensees soon after the ban order on firecrackers, asking them why they were storing it.
The court said that it would ask authorities to seal the traders’ premises, which were being used for storage of firecrackers to ensure that there is no pilferage.
We are not going to allow you to sell. There is enough pollution in this city: High Court
“The state must be involved in the sealing process so that there is no pilferage,” said Justice Narula and added, “We are not going to allow you to sell. There is enough pollution in this city.”
The court, during the hearing, observed that there was an allegation of some person selling the firecrackers in one of the instances cited by the petitioner organisation and said that whoever acted in contravention of the law would be prosecuted.
“We can’t make an exception for you. If you store them, there is a possibility of (misuse). We will put a seal. It will be videographed,” the judge said orally, news agency PTI reported.
