Supreme Court refuses to impose total ban on crackers

The Supreme Court on Wednesday refused to impose a complete ban on bursting of firecrackers during Diwali to curb air pollution.

A bench of Chief Justice H.L. Dattu and Justice Arun Mishra, however, reiterated the July 2015 judgment of the apex court prohibiting use of firecrackers between 10 pm and 6 am and use of crackers only between 6 am and 10 pm.

The bench took note of the plea by various Hindu organisations and cracker manufacturers that imposing a complete ban on firecrackers would be against the Hindu tradition being followed for hundreds of years and would hurt their religious sentiments.

The bench was hearing a writ petition filed by three toddlers, Arjun Gopal, Aaray Bhandari and Zoya Rao Bhasin, seeking a ban on crackers as they cause air pollution.