New Delhi
But we can’t sit at home. The issue of pollution in Delhi is being monitored by the Supreme Court in a suo motu proceeding arising from a petition filed by advocate MC Mehta. Under orders passed in the MC Mehta petition, there is a ban on bursting, sale and distribution of firecrackers in Delhi, extending further to the National Capital Region. This year too, fireworks retailers have requested the court for a similar arrangement demanding that under monitoring of the court, specified dates could be allotted for sale of firecrackers and regulated bursting.
During a virtual hearing, senior advocate Indira Jaising requested the apex court to list the matter on November 17, prompting the conversation to turn to the Capital’s pollution levels around Diwali. Along with this, in 2015, a petition was filed by three toddlers seeking a complete ban on firecrackers owing to the detrimental effect on children, the aged and sick persons.
Supreme Court justice Vikram Nath, in a light-hearted exchange with a senior counsel on Wednesday, remarked that “the air in Delhi will be very bad post-Diwali”, in response to the advocate’s request to adjourn a hearing in an unrelated matter to November 17. As Jaising was appearing virtually before the court, justice Nath said: “You have the privilege of sitting at home and saving yourselves from the pollution.
Last year, a window was provided by the court for sale and bursting of crackers during Diwali to strike a balance between the right to health of citizens and festive celebrations. To be sure, the issue of whether firecrackers will be allowed on Diwali this year will be heard and decided by a different bench of the Supreme Court on Thursday. Both these matters are listed before a bench headed by justice MM Sundresh on Thursday. This issue will be decided on Thursday.
