The Supreme Court on Tuesday took note of a Hindustan Times report exposing the open sale of conventional and unauthorised firecrackers in Delhi markets despite restrictions imposed by the court a day earlier, asking the Centre, Delhi government and police to take all necessary measures to prevent violations.
The court had also acknowledged that its previous directions had repeatedly failed to achieve the desired results, identifying implementation as the principal problem. It directed district administrations and police to identify designated sale points, constitute patrolling teams, verify QR codes, check vehicles entering Delhi-NCR and confiscate unauthorised products.
The bench asked the law officer to look into the matter and ensure that the necessary measures were taken, bringing the focus back on the enforcement machinery even as the court had relaxed its blanket prohibition on firecrackers for a limited period around Diwali. The report also found that several boxes did not carry QR codes mandated by the court, while some codes redirected customers to online catalogues rather than enabling verification of the product’s certification. In some instances, vendors allegedly kept conventional crackers out of sight and brought them out when customers asked for them. In Chandni Chowk, a seller even advised a customer looking for bigger fireworks to visit Sadar Bazaar, saying everything was available there. It also documented sellers accepting advance orders for home delivery, despite the court’s prohibition on online sales. The court also prohibited the manufacture and sale of firecrackers joined in series, commonly known as laris, and those containing barium or not approved by CSIR-NEERI. It directed authorities to confiscate illegal and conventional crackers and initiate prosecution against offending manufacturers and traders.
The court’s intervention comes a day after it permitted the sale of certified green firecrackers in Delhi-NCR between November 4 and 6 and their bursting only between 6am and 7am and 8pm and 10pm on November 7 and 8. A complete ban is to be restored from November 9.
The report highlighted the contrast between the court’s detailed safeguards and the situation on the ground, with street vendors and shopkeepers openly displaying firecrackers even before the permitted sales window began.
Because of their harmful effects on children and other vulnerable groups, the proceedings arise from a 2015 petition filed on behalf of three minors, including Arjun Gopal, seeking a ban on firecrackers in Delhi-NCR.
