Top court questions Delhi authorities over festival firecracker ban failures

The Supreme Court expressed sharp displeasure with the Delhi administration and the Commission for Air Quality Management regarding poor compliance with festive firecracker restrictions. Justices MM Sundresh and PB Varale noted that repeated rule-breaking turned judicial directions into an empty exercise.

Court Observations

Additional solicitor general Aishwarya Bhati represented the Union government and stated that a monitoring framework existed but lacked proper documentation in court filings. The bench asked whether inspection teams physically visited designated zones, the timing of those visits, and the metrics gathered. Judges also pointed out that only nine out of 29 units belonging to the management commission were operational.

Approach And Context

While addressing the matter, the court clarified that it did not seek an absolute prohibition on fireworks, aiming instead to protect public health while respecting festive traditions. The bench proposed enlisting well-known personalities such as cricketer Virat Kohli to build public awareness. Meanwhile, authorities outlined winter preparedness steps involving 608 anti-smog devices, electric vehicle charging stations, and urban forestry work. Another judicial panel will separately evaluate retailer requests for limited sales windows during the upcoming festive period.