Supreme Court Firecrackers Order Clears New-Generation Joint Crackers Ahead Of Diwali
NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court has permitted specified next-generation joint firecrackers ahead of the festive season, while refusing to support either a blanket ban or unrestricted bursting of fireworks throughout the day. The decision was made on September 30 in the long-running Arjun Gopal vs Union of India case concerning firecracker pollution and public health.
The ruling allows specified New generation joint firecrackers, commonly known as “laris” or series crackers, subject to conditions relating to shell size, the number of shells and the interval between successive bursts. The court has not restored unrestricted use of conventional joined crackers.
What The Supreme Court Firecrackers Order Allows
The Supreme Court firecrackers order follows recommendations submitted after consultations involving the Centre, CSIR-National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (CSIR-NEERI), the Central Pollution Control Board and the Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation.
According to Business Standard, the specified New generation joint firecrackers were examined on factors including shell dimensions, shell numbers, burst intervals and emissions. The Centre told the court that these redesigned crackers do not use barium and can meet the applicable noise standards.
Earlier court proceedings had restricted conventional joint firecrackers, with the new proposal intended to address those concerns through tighter technical specifications. The changes are therefore linked to the product’s construction and performance rather than being a general return to the earlier form of laris.
Green Crackers Rules Remain Under Review
The Green crackers Supreme Court issue is broader than the permission granted for specified joint crackers. The court is separately examining Generation-2 green crackers that contain reduced quantities of barium compounds.
The Centre told the court that an interim CSIR-NEERI assessment found 45% to 60% lower PM10 and PM2.5 emissions for certain reduced-barium formulations compared with conventional firecracker formulations. Those findings have not resulted in final permission for barium-containing variants.
CSIR-NEERI has been asked to complete further testing in Delhi, Bhopal, Kolkata and Chennai, with the assessment expected by October 15. That testing will inform the separate Green crackers Supreme Court consideration of barium-based formulations.
Diwali Use Will Still Face Time Restrictions
The court also made clear that the Supreme Court firecrackers order does not mean fireworks can be burst without restriction. The bench said it would not approve either a total prohibition or 24-hour use and indicated that specific hours would be prescribed after considering the Central Pollution Control Board’s report.
The situation in Delhi-NCR remains a separate issue because overlapping proceedings are pending in the M.C. Mehta vs Union of India matter. The Supreme Court has not settled the Delhi-NCR question through this proceeding.
The ruling comes as concerns over seasonal pollution return to focus. Recent reporting on air-pollution control measures has highlighted the continuing pressure on Indian cities to reduce particulate pollution.
What Happens Next
The New generation joint firecrackers approved in principle by the court remain subject to the specified technical and regulatory conditions. The separate barium assessment is expected to provide the court with additional evidence before it decides whether those formulations can be used.
The Green crackers Supreme Court proceedings and the pending Delhi-NCR questions therefore remain active, while the Supreme Court firecrackers order has created a limited regulatory pathway for specified next-generation joint crackers ahead of Diwali.
