The battle for fresh air in Delhi saw a significant development today. The Apex Court has passed an order that, in effect, bans the sale of firecrackers in the capital and the adjoining areas of the National Capital Region..The order was passed today at 2 p.m. by a Bench of Chief Justice TS Thakur, and Justices AK Sikri and SA Bobde, in a batch of PILs filed highlighting the deteriorating air quality in Delhi. As a result of today’s order, no fresh licences to sell firecrackers will be given, and existing licences will be suspended.In September last year, three infants had approached the Supreme Court seeking a blanket ban on the use of fireworks and seasonal crop burning. The petitioners are, in fact, the children of three practising lawyers of the Supreme Court – advocates Gopal Sankaranarayanan, Saurabh Bhasin and Amit Bhandari.The crackdown by Supreme Court could well have been prompted by the dangerous level to which pollution had escalated following this year’s Diwali celebrations. The court had last heard the matter on November 11 and had floated the idea of banning firecrackers altogether..Solicitor General Ranjith Kumar appeared on behalf of the Centre.
The battle for fresh air in Delhi saw a significant development today. The Apex Court has passed an order that, in effect, bans the sale of firecrackers in the capital and the adjoining areas of the National Capital Region..The order was passed today at 2 p.m. by a Bench of Chief Justice TS Thakur, and Justices AK Sikri and SA Bobde, in a batch of PILs filed highlighting the deteriorating air quality in Delhi. As a result of today’s order, no fresh licences to sell firecrackers will be given, and existing licences will be suspended.In September last year, three infants had approached the Supreme Court seeking a blanket ban on the use of fireworks and seasonal crop burning. The petitioners are, in fact, the children of three practising lawyers of the Supreme Court – advocates Gopal Sankaranarayanan, Saurabh Bhasin and Amit Bhandari.The crackdown by Supreme Court could well have been prompted by the dangerous level to which pollution had escalated following this year’s Diwali celebrations. The court had last heard the matter on November 11 and had floated the idea of banning firecrackers altogether..Solicitor General Ranjith Kumar appeared on behalf of the Centre.