Photo Source: ANI
Supreme Court questions 'Delhi-Only' firecracker ban, calls for nationwide policy
Babushahi Bureau
New Delhi, September 12, 2025: The Supreme Court on Friday questioned why firecracker bans are limited to Delhi-NCR, suggesting that other cities facing severe pollution should also be included. Chief Justice B.R. Gavai remarked, “If citizens in NCR are entitled to clean air, why not people of other cities?” emphasizing that any firecracker policy “has to be on a pan-India basis.”
CJI Gavai added, “We can’t have a policy just for Delhi because they are elite citizens of the country. I was in Amritsar last winter and the pollution was worse than Delhi. If firecrackers are to be banned, they should be banned throughout the country.”
Senior Advocate Aparajita Singh supported the observation, noting that “elites take care of themselves. They go out of Delhi when there’s pollution.”
The bench has issued notice to the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) on a plea seeking a nationwide ban on firecrackers. The discussion comes ahead of Diwali, when North India’s air quality typically deteriorates due to fireworks and crop residue burning.
Authorities have previously imposed firecracker restrictions, including full bans in Delhi and extended areas, limited-time bans in some NCR suburbs, and strict rules on sale and storage.