SC dismisses plea to lift ban on firecrackers in Delhi

"We will not lift the ban on firecrackers in the National Capital Region. Our order is very clear," a Supreme Court bench headed by Justice M R Shah said, reported India Today.

The court expressed concern over the rising pollution in the national capital Delhi while dismissing the petition filed by BJP MP Manoj Tiwari.

Tiwari had approached the court seeking the revocation of the blanket ban on the sale, purchase, and use of firecrackers during the festive season.

Supreme Court said it had already passed detailed order with regard to the usage of firecrackers and will not vacate the previous order, the report said.

"Our order regarding the ban on firecrackers from the National Capital Region is very clear. How can we allow firecrackers even if they are green crackers. Have you seen the pollution of Delhi?" SC asked the petitioner, according to the report.

"After Diwali the air quality of Delhi NCR will deteriorate more. Things will become bad."

The court, referring to other pending cases, said that even the green crackers will be banned in view of the parali season.

In his petition, Tiwari also said, "That such arrests and FIRs on the festive season like Deepawali has not only brought a very bad message to the society at large and has unnecessarily created a fear and anger among the masses."

Last year the court had clarified there is no blanket ban on use of firecrackers and only those fireworks which contain barium salts are prohibited, according to the India Today report.