Fire Cracker Ban
Supreme Court allows green crackers during festivities in Bengal, cancels Calcutta HC's order
New Delhi/IBNS: The Supreme Court has set aside the Calcutta High Court's ruling, allowing the use of green crackers with relatively less-polluting materials during the upcoming festivities, media reports said.
"There cannot be a complete ban of firecrackers. Strengthen the mechanism to stop misuse," a vacation bench of Justices AM Khanwilkar and Ajay Rastogi said on Monday, reported NDTV.
The Supreme Court's ruling came just days ahead of Kali Puja, Diwali and other festivals.
The apex court asked the West Bengal government to find ways to ensure that banned firecrackers and related items are not imported in the state and stopped at entry points.
On Oct 29, the Calcutta HC had imposed a complete ban on sale and use of crackers, including green crackers.
"The state should ensure that there is no use or display or bursting of firecrackers of any type at all during Kali Puja, Diwali celebrations as well as Chhath Puja, Jagadhatri Puja, Guru Nanak's birthday and Christmas and New Year's Eve celebrations this year," the High Court had said.
According to the report, representing the firecracker manufacturers, senior lawyer Siddharth Bhatnagar told the Supreme Court on Monday: "Despite the fact that there are three orders of Supreme Court regarding green crackers and two orders of the National Green Tribunal, the Calcutta High Court has banned green crackers. The Supreme Court orders say that if air quality is moderate or better, green crackers may be permitted to be used."
Environmental activist Roshni Ali had filed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) with the Calcutta High Court seeking complete ban on the sale and use of firecrackers during the upcoming festivals like Diwali, Chhath Puja, Jagadhatri Puja and Christmas to safeguard people's right to clean, healthy and breathable air, particularly in times of the COVID-19 pandemic.
A bench of the Calcutta High Court, headed by Justice Sabyasachi Bhattacharya and also comprising Justice Aniruddha Roy had also, in their order, directed the police to maintain strict vigil and ensure that no sale, purchase or use of firecrackers take place during the festivities.
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