New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Friday (January 17) extended complete ban on use of firecrackers in the districts of Uttar Pradesh and Haryana falling under the National Capital Region (NCR) till further orders.
A bench comprising Justice Abhay S Oka and Justice Ujjal Bhuyan extended the complete ban while hearing a matter regarding air pollution in Delhi and NCR.
What did the Uttar Pradesh government inform apex court?
The Uttar Pradesh government informed the apex court bench that it has imposed a complete ban on use of all types of firecrackers till January 17 and thus has complied with the top court order.
The bench, however, asked Uttar Pradesh Additional Advocate General Garima Prashad that it had not asked for a temporary ban on firecrackers and had directed to consider a permanent ban on the lines of the Delhi government.
“The ban imposed by the state of Uttar Pradesh and Haryana to NCR parts of the states which was effective till today is extended till further orders are passed. The compliance by the states will be considered on March 24, 2025,” the bench said.
What did the apex court direct Uttar Pradesh, Haryana on December 19 last year?
The apex court had on December 19 last year observed that the complete ban on the use of firecrackers throughout the year will be effectively only when all states forming the part of the NCR follow the ban imposed by the Delhi government and Rajasthan government and had asked the Uttar Pradesh and Haryana governments to impose similar perpetual ban in the areas falling under the NCR region.
“We are of the view that this ban (on firecrackers) will be effective only when other states forming part of NCR region impose similar measures. For the time being, we direct the states of Uttar Pradesh and Haryana to impose similar ban which is imposed by the state of Delhi under order dated 19 December 2024. In January 2025, we will consider issue of passing further directions,” the bench had said on December 19 last year.
What did the apex court earlier say on complete firecracker ban?
The apex court had earlier directed the NCR states to consider complete ban on firecrackers use throughout the year and place on record before it their decisions in this regard, saying imposing ban on firecrackers is required not only to curb air pollution but also noise pollution.
The apex court earlier had expressed its serious concerns on high pollution levels in Delhi during Diwali festival and had taken exception to violation of court orders on firecrackers ban, observing that it was “hardly implemented”.
