THE SUPREME COURT TODAY relaxed its earlier blanket ban on firecrackers in the Delhi–National Capital Region (‘NCR’), permitting the sale and limited bursting of certified green firecrackers for two days during Diwali under tight regulation.
A Bench of Chief Justice B.R. Gavai and Justice K. Vinod Chandran allowed the sale of green firecrackers from October 18 to October 20, directing that bursting will be permitted only between 6 a.m. and 7 a.m. and 8 p.m. and 10 p.m. on the two days — the eve and the day of Diwali.
Invoking the principle of proportionality, the Court said a “balanced approach” was required to reconcile the citizens’ right to celebrate festivals with the imperative of protecting public health and the environment. The Bench observed, “In such a case, we have to take a balanced approach, taking into account the conflicting interests and permit in moderation, while not compromising the environmental concerns arising.”
The Court observed that while bursting firecrackers is deeply rooted in India’s cultural and festive traditions, it cannot come at the cost of public health and environmental safety. It emphasised that the right to livelihood of those in the firecracker industry must be balanced against citizens’ right to clean air and life. Commercial interests and festive exuberance, the Court said, must yield when they threaten environmental integrity and human well-being.
The order, issued as a temporary measure on a test-case basis, mirrors the calibrated model adopted in the landmark judgment in Arjun Gopal v. Union of India (2018) , where the Supreme Court had first laid down guidelines to mitigate pollution from fireworks without imposing a total ban.
The top Court, in its order today, recalled that the Arjun Gopal judgment sought to strike a delicate balance among three competing interests — the right to livelihood and occupation of those engaged in the firecracker industry, the right to health and clean air of citizens, and the cultural and traditional significance of Diwali festivities.
The Bench noted that, since 2018, green crackers developed by the National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (‘NEERI’) have considerably reduced emissions, and that, despite bans, smuggled and unregulated fireworks have continued to enter the NCR, causing more harm than certified products.
Following the Arjun Gopal framework, the Supreme Court directed that green firecrackers listed on NEERI’s website may be sold only between October 18 and 20, 2025, and only from designated outlets approved by the District Collectors in consultation with the police.
It ordered the formation of patrolling teams comprising police and State Pollution Control Board officers to ensure that only approved products bearing NEERI or Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation (‘PESO’) QR codes are sold, warning that violations will attract penalties and cancellation of licences.
The Court restricted the bursting of crackers to two time slots — 6 a.m. to 7 a.m. and 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. — on the two permitted days. It said that only licensed traders dealing in NEERI-registered and PESO-approved products can sell crackers, and no import of firecrackers from outside the NCR will be allowed.
Firecrackers containing barium, joined “laris,” or those not certified as green are completely banned, as is any online sale or delivery through e-commerce platforms like Amazon or Flipkart.
The Court also directed that licences suspended or cancelled after earlier bans may be temporarily renewed for the permitted period.
Additionally, the Central and State Pollution Control Boards were asked to monitor air quality across NCR from October 14 to 25, collect air, sand, and water samples from high-usage areas, and submit a compliance report to the Court after Diwali.
While acknowledging that bursting crackers is “an expression of festive spirit embedded in India’s cultural milieu”, the Court warned that “commercial considerations and the festive mood must take a back seat when public health and environmental safety are at stake.”
Directing its registry to forward the order to the District Collectors of all the Districts coming within the NCR, the order said that the matter will be heard again after three weeks to review air quality reports and enforcement outcomes across NCR.
