SC to hear plea by 3 infants today; Centre keeps mum on the effects the firecrackers have on the air quality in the capital

A plea by three infants in the Supreme Court for a ban on firecrackers during Deepavali has been strongly objected to in the Supreme Court by various organisations, one of them contending that “crackers are burst on Deepavali to celebrate the victory of good over evil” and a ban will “affect the traditional and customary rights of the Hindus.”

Arjun Gopal, Aarav Bhandari and Zoya Rao Bhasin had voiced the growing despair of children choking on the National Capital’s noxious air.

They asked the apex court for a restriction on the bursting of firecrackers this Deepavali as an immediate measure to help them breathe better.

A Bench led by CJI H.L. Dattu had posted the case for early hearing owing to the urgency of the issue. However, the Supreme Court is now faced with mixed responses. A high-voltage hearing is expected in court on Wednesday. While the Centre keeps an ominous silence on the effect firecrackers have on the deteriorating air quality in the capital, a Hindu organisation, M/s Arulmigu Sri Ayyappan Sangam, has told the Court that any “banning or restriction on bursting firecrackers on Deepavali day would affect the traditional and customary rights of the Hindus...”.

In a separate application for impleadment, Tamil Nadu Fireworks and Amorces Manufacturers Association said the toddlers’ pleas for a ban on firecrackers is misconceived and an abuse of the process of law. The Sivakasi-based association said the entire district is either directly or indirectly engaged in the trade of firecrackers.