Plea filed before Delhi High Court challenging ban on firecrackers

A petition has been filed before the Delhi High Court challenging Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) order banning manufacture, sale, storage and bursting of firecrackers in the national capital. .The DPCC had issued an order on September 14 stating that there will be a complete ban on manufacturing, storage, selling (including delivery through online marketing platforms) and bursting of all kinds of fire-crackers upto January 1, 2023. .The plea filed by two firms involved in sale, purchase and storage of green crackers contended that DPCC directions are contrary to judicial orders as even National Green Tribunal (NGT) has expressly allowed sale and use of cracker in areas where air quality is 'moderate'."It is humbly submitted that the air-quality in New Delhi has been moderate or better at least since 15th August, 2022. In this view, there is no occasion to impose a ban on the use of even green crackers," the plea said. .The plea, filed through advocates Aman Bansal and Pranjal Kishore, argued that even Supreme Court has set aside orders of Telangana and Calcutta High Court which imposed a blanket ban on sale of all fire crackers. .It was contended that the Delhi Police had issued an advertisement for grant of temporary fireworks licenses earlier this month and that relying on this advertisement as well as court orders passed from time to time, the petitioners along with other sellers stocked up green crackers. .The petition was heard by Justice Yashwant Varma on Wednesday who asked the petitioner to find out whether the Supreme Court is dealing with a similar petition and if it is, then what is the scope of plea. The case will now be considered on October 7.