The long-standing ban on the sale and use of firecrackers in Delhi and the NCR region during Diwali may soon be partially relaxed. The Supreme Court recently indicated that it is considering allowing limited use of firecrackers during the festive period. A bench headed by Chief Justice D.Y. Chandrachud and Justice K. Vinod Chandran stated that the relaxation, if approved, would only be temporary and implemented on an experimental basis.
According to the government’s proposal, people may be permitted to burst firecrackers between 8 PM and 10 PM on Diwali night, and from 11:55 PM to 12:30 AM on New Year’s Eve. Limited time slots may also be allowed during weddings or other festivals. The court clarified that this relaxation would apply only to eco-friendly or “green crackers.” However, the judges also questioned the actual effectiveness of the existing ban asking whether Delhi-NCR’s air quality has improved at all since the restrictions were first imposed.
Environmentalists and health experts have voiced concerns about the possible relaxation. They argue that even so-called “green crackers” are not truly environment-friendly, as many such products emit smoke and particulate matter similar to traditional firecrackers. Experts fear that air pollution levels could spike once again, leading to severe smog and respiratory illnesses.
Every year, air pollution in Delhi worsens sharply after Diwali, with the city’s skies blanketed in thick smog. Activists warn that lifting the ban, even partially, could undo the environmental progress made so far. The Supreme Court has clarified that no final decision has yet been made the matter remains under consideration.
The nation watches closely as the court weighs a sensitive balance between festive celebration and environmental responsibility.
