Supreme Court permits limited sale and bursting of green firecrackers in Delhi ahead of Diwali

The Supreme Court on Monday approved the sale and bursting of certified green firecrackers in Delhi-NCR between 6 a.m.-7 a.m. and 8 p.m.-10 p.m. on November 7 and 8, ahead of Diwali. The court clarified that a complete ban on firecrackers will resume from November 9.

A bench comprising Justices M.M. Sundresh and P.B. Varale said a regulated approach was preferable to a blanket prohibition, noting that the earlier total ban had not significantly improved air quality and had failed to stop illegal sales of conventional crackers disguised as green ones.

"Though imposition of a blanket ban seems to be the ideal solution, we are of the opinion that this Court, at this point in time, is short of adequate data to decide whether or not a complete ban would be the best solution to solve the problem of environmental pollution caused by bursting firecrackers," the bench observed.

The court emphasized that firecrackers contribute to pollution but that implementation of existing measures has been weak. It called for better coordination among stakeholders and sustained monitoring beyond the festive period.

Manufacturers with valid certifications from CSIR-NEERI and PESO may produce approved green crackers from November 2 to 6, and only products listed on the CSIR-NEERI website may be sold. Sales are limited to designated locations identified by district officials; online sales are prohibited. Licences of traders whose permits were cancelled will be temporarily restored from November 4 to 6 to facilitate sales, with any breach leading to immediate licence cancellation.

Each box of green crackers must display a product-specific QR code linking to details such as the manufacturer, NEERI registration, PESO or district magistrate licence, formulation and test certificate. Transfer or sale of the QR code is prohibited and will attract penalties.

The court banned the manufacture and sale of joined-in-series crackers (‘laris’), barium-containing crackers and any firecrackers not approved by CSIR-NEERI. Authorities are to confiscate illegal and conventional crackers and prosecute violators.

Bursting is prohibited within 300 metres of hospitals, nursing homes, health centres, old-age homes, schools and notified silence zones, which will be marked as no-cracker zones. Manufacturers and traders must provide monetary security deposits that will be forfeited for non-compliance.

Police and district teams will conduct regular inspections at sale points, verify QR codes and monitor vehicle entry into Delhi-NCR to prevent illegal firecrackers. The Central Pollution Control Board, in consultation with state boards, will issue daily air-quality reports for the periods November 2-6, November 7-8 and November 9-30, and will collect sand, water and hospital data to assess health impacts.

State governments must submit affidavits on compliance and health impact by December 14, and the bench will review implementation in periodic hearings, warning of contempt action for officials who fail to comply.

The order follows an October 2025 decision that allowed green crackers for three days (October 18-20) after a full ban imposed in December 2024. The court noted that earlier relaxations were not fully complied with and that air quality had worsened after Dussehra.

The case originated from a 2015 petition on behalf of three minors seeking a ban on firecrackers in Delhi-NCR due to health concerns. While the petition for a complete prohibition was not granted, the court stressed that the temporary relaxation is intended to allow access to legitimate, tested products under strict safeguards and to generate data on environmental and health effects.