Supreme Court Allows Certified Green Firecrackers in Delhi-NCR on 7 and 8 November

The Supreme Court allowed the manufacture, sale and bursting of certified green firecrackers in Delhi-NCR for limited hours on 7 and 8 November. Diwali falls on 8 November. The order, issued by a bench of Justices M.M. Sundresh and Prasanna B. Varale, restores the full ban from 9 November.

Bursting is permitted only between 6 am and 7 am and between 8 pm and 10 pm on those two days. No fireworks may be used within a 300-metre radius of hospitals, nursing homes, primary and district health centres, old-age homes, educational institutions and notified silence zones. These areas are to be marked and published as no-cracker zones.

Only manufacturers holding valid certification from CSIR-NEERI and licences from the Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation may produce green crackers, and only those listed on the CSIR-NEERI website between 2 and 6 November. Crackers containing barium, products without NEERI approval and linked firecrackers remain prohibited. Sale is restricted to designated locations and a short window.

The court noted that a complete ban has facilitated illegal sales of conventional crackers while preventing people from buying certified green ones. It described bursting of firecrackers during Deepavali as a religious practice under Article 25 but subject to public order, morality and health. The bench observed that children, the elderly and disabled people are among the most vulnerable to air and noise pollution and solid waste generated by fireworks.

The order was made available on 2 November. Delhi’s air quality had already entered the very poor category that day, with AQI readings above 300. The Commission for Air Quality Management had invoked Stage II of the Graded Response Action Plan across the NCR. Winter conditions that trap pollutants make the timing of any firework use particularly sensitive.

Authorities are directed to prevent the circulation of illegal and conventional crackers under the green label. The temporary relaxation is intended to generate data on the environmental and health effects of certified green crackers while limiting exposure. The full ban resumes the day after Diwali.

The decision follows earlier court interventions on firecracker use in the capital region. Implementation will depend on enforcement by local authorities and the willingness of manufacturers and traders to stay within the certified list and time slots.