Supreme Court urges voluntary shift to low-pollution festivals, rejects blanket firecracker ban

During a suo motu hearing on air-pollution, the Supreme Court bench of Chief Justice Surya Kant, Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana declined to issue a blanket ban on firecrackers in Delhi-NCR, emphasizing a balance between public-health concerns and religious traditions. The judges called on citizens to voluntarily adopt less polluting ways to celebrate, noting the health hazards of firecracker smoke. Amicus senior advocate Aparajita Singh argued that children are falling ill and that police cannot monitor every street, suggesting the matter be referred to the Commission for Air Quality Management.

The court recommended targeted awareness campaigns, restricting the most harmful crackers, and reviving cultural practices like sparklers and lamp lighting. It also discussed steps to curb stubble burning, directing the Centre to file an updated status report, with a follow-up hearing scheduled for October 15. These actions form part of broader Supreme Court initiatives on Delhi-NCR air quality, waste management and crop-residue burning.