New Delhi: The Supreme Court has permitted the sale and bursting of approved green firecrackers in Delhi-NCR for two days, November 7 and 8, subject to specified timings. The temporary relaxation allows residents to use certified green crackers between 6 am and 7 am and again from 8 pm to 10 pm. The complete ban on firecrackers will return from November 9.
The decision, reported by news agency Press Trust of India (PTI), comes after the court observed that a blanket prohibition was not effectively preventing the sale and use of illegal conventional firecrackers. Instead, it said the ban was also stopping people from purchasing approved green crackers that had undergone testing at recognised facilities.
A bench comprising Justices M M Sundresh and Prasanna B Varale said the failure of authorities to implement earlier directions had become a recurring problem. It decided to regulate the manufacture, storage, sale and bursting of green crackers for a limited period rather than continue with a complete prohibition.
In its October 29 order, the court also sought reliable information on the environmental and public-health effects of green crackers. It said the temporary relaxation would help authorities gather evidence and present their findings before the court for further consideration.
Green crackers allowed only during specified hours
Under the Supreme Court’s directions, approved green crackers can be burst in Delhi-NCR on November 7 and 8 during two designated windows:
- Morning: 6 am to 7 am
- Evening: 8 pm to 10 pm
The relaxation is limited to green crackers that meet the prescribed standards and have been tested at recognised facilities. It does not permit the use of conventional firecrackers or products falsely marketed as green crackers.
The court has made it clear that the complete ban will resume from November 9. Residents and traders will therefore have to follow the temporary schedule and other conditions laid down in the order.
The directions also cover the manufacture, storage and sale of green crackers, not just their use. Authorities have been asked to ensure that only permitted products reach designated markets and that illegal firecrackers are removed from circulation.
Court says complete ban has encouraged illegal sales
Explaining the reasons behind its decision, the bench said a complete ban had not achieved the intended results. According to the court, illegal firecrackers continued to enter the market, while legitimate green products remained inaccessible to consumers.
The bench observed that the ban was “not only facilitating the illegal sale of firecrackers but also preventing people from purchasing legitimate green crackers and next-generation joined green crackers, which have been tested at established facilities”.
The court also expressed concern that conventional firecrackers were being sold as green crackers even after the complete prohibition had resumed.
It said that despite repeated directions, the authorities had failed to ensure effective enforcement or provide the relevant information and documents required by the court.
The bench noted that it had not received adequate data to establish whether the complete ban imposed in Delhi-NCR in 2024 had achieved its objectives. It also pointed out that there had been no significant improvement in air quality index readings despite the restrictions.
Pollution concerns remain despite restrictions
The Supreme Court referred to air pollution levels recorded around Dussehra this year. A note submitted by an advocate assisting the court indicated that pollution levels had risen significantly on the festival day and the following day, despite the complete ban on firecrackers.
The observation raised questions about the effectiveness of the existing enforcement system. The court said the continued availability and use of conventional firecrackers showed that restrictions on paper were not necessarily translating into compliance on the ground.
The bench had earlier relaxed the complete prohibition on October 15, 2025, after considering the harmful effects of illegal firecrackers entering the Indian market and the need to balance competing interests.
The latest order follows the same broad approach of regulating the use of approved products while seeking to address illegal trade. The court wants authorities to establish whether green crackers can be managed in a way that reduces environmental and public-health risks.
It has also asked the states concerned to provide findings on the effects of green crackers so that future decisions can be based on evidence rather than assumptions.
Authorities directed to monitor sale and use
The Supreme Court has directed authorities across Delhi-NCR to take preventive steps before the permitted dates rather than respond after violations occur.
Banners must be displayed at designated locations, including shops, informing the public about the dates on which green crackers can be sold and the dates and timings during which they can be burst.
The information must clearly explain the limited relaxation and the restrictions that remain in force. Authorities have also been asked to publicise the court’s directions through the departments concerned.
The bench said people should be informed about how and where they can lodge complaints against manufacturers and traders violating the rules. This is intended to make it easier for residents to report the sale of conventional firecrackers or products falsely labelled as green.
Police, in coordination with district administrations across Delhi-NCR, have been directed to form patrol teams to monitor designated green-cracker sale locations.
The court has also ordered the immediate seizure of illegal or conventional firecrackers. Manufacturers and traders responsible for violations must face prosecution under the applicable provisions.
It warned that officials who fail to implement the directions could face strict contempt action. The warning places responsibility on enforcement agencies to ensure that the temporary relaxation does not become an opportunity for unrestricted sale or use of prohibited products.
Supreme Court calls for public-awareness campaign
The bench said that effective regulation would require a change in public behaviour alongside enforcement by government agencies.
It appealed to members of the legal profession, prominent personalities, celebrities and sportspersons to support a voluntary public-awareness campaign. Their participation, the court said, could help communicate the importance of celebrating festivals responsibly.
The court observed that repeated judicial directions alone would not bring about a lasting change unless public perception also evolved.
The proposed campaign is intended to encourage people to consider the impact of firecrackers on public health and the environment. The bench said public participation could help reduce harmful practices and promote safer celebrations.
The appeal reflects the court’s view that pollution control cannot depend only on police action, inspections and legal restrictions. Public cooperation will also be necessary to ensure compliance.
Post-festival clean-up and air-quality monitoring
The Supreme Court has also directed authorities to prepare for the environmental consequences after the permitted celebrations.
Government departments have been asked to ensure that solid waste generated during the festival is cleared, managed and disposed of properly. The bench specifically mentioned the need to clean the most polluted areas using water sprinklers and other possible measures.
The court also called for all possible efforts to monitor air quality levels. The directions are intended to help authorities assess pollution during and after the two-day relaxation.
The findings will be important when the court considers the effectiveness of the temporary arrangement and the wider issue of firecracker regulation in Delhi-NCR.
What residents need to know
The Supreme Court’s order provides a limited window for the use of approved green crackers, but the restrictions remain strict.
Residents can burst permitted green crackers only between 6 am and 7 am and between 8 pm and 10 pm on November 7 and 8. Conventional firecrackers remain prohibited, and the complete ban will return from November 9.
Traders must also comply with the conditions governing the manufacture, storage and sale of approved products. Police and district authorities have been directed to monitor markets, seize illegal firecrackers and take action against violators.
The temporary relaxation is not a withdrawal of the court’s concerns over air pollution. Rather, it is an attempt to regulate an activity that the court believes has continued illegally despite a blanket ban, while collecting information about the environmental and health effects of approved alternatives.
The next phase will depend on enforcement, public cooperation and the evidence gathered by the authorities. The Supreme Court has made clear that compliance with its directions will be closely monitored.