Burst crackers only from 8 pm to 10 pm, rules HC
High Court directs Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh to enforce firecracker restrictions ordered by the SC to curb pollution
2 min read
In its remarks, the High Court noted that the Supreme Court has provided sufficient guidelines on firecracker use and sales, which the executive authorities in Punjab, Haryana, and Chandigarh should strictly enforce.
The Punjab and Haryana High Court has directed Punjab, Haryana, and Chandigarh to ensure strict compliance with Supreme Court guidelines on the use, sale, and purchase of firecrackers.
The order came during a hearing of a PIL filed by advocate Sunaina, who sought steps to enforce the Supreme Court and High Court’s directions on firecracker use to minimise pollution and reduce adverse health effects during festivities. Sunaina referenced the Supreme Court rulings in “Arjun Gopal and others vs. Union of India and others” (2016 and 2017) and a 2017 suo motu case against the Chandigarh Administration, both addressing pollution control during firecracker use.
Sunaina argued that air quality in Punjab, Haryana, and Chandigarh has been steadily deteriorating. She urged that strict adherence to the courts’ guidelines would help improve environmental quality and public health.
The petition cited the Supreme Court’s restrictions on toxic firecracker components like antimony, lithium, mercury, arsenic, lead, and strontium chromate and established limited timeframes for firecracker use: from 8-10 pm on Diwali, and from 11:45 pm to 12:45 am on Christmas and New Year’s Eve.
In its remarks, the High Court noted that the Supreme Court has provided sufficient guidelines on firecracker use and sales, which the executive authorities in Punjab, Haryana, and Chandigarh should strictly enforce.
Disposing of the petition, the High Court directed these states and Chandigarh to comply fully with the Supreme Court’s guidelines to mitigate firecracker-related pollution.
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