Traders to urge SC to modify ban on firecrackers’ sale

New Delhi: The Supreme Court is likely to hear on Friday the plea of a group of traders in the National Capital Region seeking modification of the October 9 order banning sale of crackers for this Diwali. The traders told the court that they had invested a large amount of money into the business after their licences were revived when the Supreme Court had temporarily lifted the ban on the sale of firecrackers in Delhi-NCR on September 12.

The Supreme Court is likely to hear on October 13 the plea of a group of traders in the national capital region seeking modification of the October 9 order banning sale of crackers for this Diwali which will continue till November 1,

A Bench of Justices Ranjan Gogoi and A.M. Sapre (who was part of the three judge ban which slapped the ban) and Navin Sinha told counsel Deepak Chauhan, appearing for the traders for urgent listing that the application would be listed of the order to allow them to sell the existing stock.

The apex court on October 9 directed suspension all temporary licenses, which permit sale of fireworks, wholesale and retail within the territory of NCR.

The suspension shall remain in force till further orders of this Court. No such licenses shall be granted or renewed till further orders.

The Bench said that the September 12 order temporarily lifting the stay and permitting sale of firecrackers would be effective from November 1 and only licensed shops will be allowed to do business. Diwali is on October 19 and the order effectively means that no firecrackers will be available for purchase before the festival.

In its order the court had said that as the ban was imposed last year after Diwali the NCR did not have the benefit to test air quality without bursting of crackers.

It said “We are of the view that the order suspending the licences should be given one chance to test itself in order to find out as to whether there would be positive effect of this suspension, particularly during Diwali period.”