Supreme Court pushes balanced firecracker rules, cites health concerns

UPDATE - follow-up to Restrictions on firecrackers: Supreme Court urges balance between religious sentiments and public health: The Supreme Court on Oct 12 heard arguments on firecracker restrictions in Delhi and nearby areas. Chief Justice Surya Kant said the court must not hurt religious feelings but people should choose safer options. Justice Joymalya Bagchi asked whether the tradition has a genuine religious basis. Senior advocate Aparajita Singh, the amicus curiae, warned that firecracker smoke harms children, seniors and the medically vulnerable. She asked the Commission for Air Quality Management to focus on these health concerns. The bench warned that outright bans may be hard to enforce on the ground. The chief justice called for public awareness about which crackers are harmful and suggested promoting lamps and sparklers while limiting the sale of the most polluting varieties. The case will be heard again on Oct 15.

Context

Balancing cultural festivals with air‑quality goals is a recurring issue in India’s major cities, and courts often look to education and selective bans rather than total prohibition.