Supreme Court refuses to completely ban sale and bursting of firecrackers
New Delhi, Oct 23 (IBNS): The Supreme Court on Tuesday refused to impose a complete ban on the sale and bursting of firecrackers across the country, media reports said.
Firecrackers can be sold only through licensed traders, the top court ruled. No e-commerce sale of firecrackers have been allowed.
The apex court has allotted two hours- from 8 pm to 10 pm- to burn firecrackers in Diwali. In Christmas, people will be allowed to burn crackers only between 11:55 pm and 12:30 am, NDTV reported.
In Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR), firecrackers, as the top court said, will be allowed to burn only in designated areas.
The Supreme Court was hearing a petition seeking a ban on the manufacture, sale and possession of firecrackers across the country to prevent air pollution.
Last year, the sale of firecrackers was banned in Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR).
The top court's verdict has coincided with the view of the Centre which did not favour an imposition of a countrywide ban on sale of firecrackers.
The Centre had suggested that a few conditions could be applied on the manufacture and sale of high-decibel firecrackers.
Contesting the petition, the firecrackers sellers had said the ban will hurt thousands of livelihoods. They had also stated firecrackers cannot be held solely responsible for air pollution.
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