Supreme Court asks Delhi-NCR States to decide on blanket firecracker ban

The Supreme Court on Thursday directed Delhi government and other National Capital Region (NCR) States - Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and Rajasthan - to take a final call on prohibiting the use of firecrackers throughout the year..A Bench of Justices Abhay S Oka and Augustine George Masih asked the states to place their decisions on record before the top court"The issue regarding ban on use of firecrackers in NCR states is yet to be addressed. We direct the concerned state governments to place their decisions on regard regarding complete ban on use of firecrackers throughout the year," the Bench said.The ban is required not only to curb the air pollution but noise pollution as well, it added."We will consider issuing necessary directions to the state governments on the issue of ban on use of firecrackers. When we refer to ban on use of firecrackers, it will also include ban on manufacture, storage, sale and distribution on firecrackers," the Court said further..The Bench was hearing the case concerning the Delhi air pollution crisis. The Court has been monitoring action taken by authorities in the adjoining States to curb stubble-burning incidents, among other things.In November, the Court, while questioning the authorities for their failure to implement the ban on firecrackers in Delhi during Diwali, had remarked that no religion encourages any activity which creates pollution."The use of firecrackers also affects the fundamental right to health of the citizens apart from creating noise pollution," it said then.Earlier, it has also asked Delhi government to consider implementing a perpetual firecracker ban in the national capital..On the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) currently in place in Delhi, the top court today ordered that directions issued by it earlier will continue until further orders. It also directed the Commission for Air Quality Management (CQAM) to proceed with implementation of the modified measures to improve air quality in Delhi..With regard to the compensation paid to the construction workers affected by the GRAP-IV measures which were previously in operation, the Court said it will continue to monitor the issue and ensure that everyone is paid."The concerned state governments will ensure that every affected worker is paid subsistence allowance. There is an issue about number of registered workers... whether it is the Delhi government or other governments, the emphasis should be not only on registration but on ascertaining actual number of workers deprived of income during this period," it added.The governments was directed to file comprehensive affidavit on this aspect by January 03, 2025. The Court today also directed that the appointment of lawyers as court commissioners will continue. It further ordered the NCR States to appoint nodal officers to facilitate the court commissioners' visit to various places where GRAP measures are applicable..While deliberating on the issue of air pollution in Delhi, the Court today suggested that government departments should start using electric vehicles. "If all government vehicles are EVs ... that we will have to consider. If it comes Commission (CQAM), we will also make that an order of the court but it must come from the Commission. You (CQAM) can also get the data on number of government cars on road. In Delhi, there are vehicles of Corporation, DDA, PSUs, armed forces. That is one aspect that can be considered," Justice Oka remarked..[Read Order]