Firecrackers only from 11.55 pm to 12.30 am on X-Mas, NY day: SC

The Supreme Court on Monday clarified that the firecrackers will be allowed between 11.55 pm and 12.30 am on Christmas and New Year Day but they should conform to the green norms it laid down last week.

Refusing to put a blanket ban on bursting of firecrackers, the Bench of Justices AK Sikri and Ashok Bhushan reiterated that only green firecrackers with reduced emission and decibel levels as specified last week will be allowed during all religious festivals.

The order came on a petition filed on behalf of two sixmonth-old and one fourteenmonth-old infants, pleading for a ban on the use of firecrackers, sparklers and minor

explosives, in any form, during festivals or otherwise, saying even two hours of bursting of the firecrackers permitted by the court will cause immense pollution.

The Bench also said that the time limit of bursting such crackers only between 8 pm and 10 pm will also apply to Gurupurab. It said the ban on the bursting of firecrackers not conforming to the green norms

would be in force throughout the year and also apply to the marriage festivities.

The court also prohibited manufacture, sale and use of the joined firecrackers called ‘laris’ and banned sale of crackers online. "Any such e-commerce companies found selling crackers online will be hauled up for contempt of court and the court may also pass orders of penalties," it said.