The Delhi BJP government is planning to move the Supreme Court for permission to burst green firecrackers on Diwali, announced Chief Minister Rekha Gupta. According to a statement shared by the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO), “The Delhi government will present its stand in writing before the Supreme Court. Permission should be given for the use of certified green firecrackers while following public participation and government regulations.” The government's decision comes days after the apex court asked the central government to come up with a “concrete proposal” to ensure that markets in Delhi-NCR have only green crackers before it can consider applications for lifting the stay on the ban of such crackers. The SC will hear the matter next on Tuesday. According to the CMO, Gupta said Diwali is the biggest religious festival of Indian culture. “Keeping in mind the sentiments of crores of people in Delhi, our government has requested the Supreme Court to allow the use of green firecrackers in Delhi during the festival,” she said. The government also reiterated its commitment to effectively curb pollution and protect the environment, and assured full cooperation with the Supreme Court so that any directions issued in this regard can be implemented, said the CM. "All these green firecrackers must be manufactured by authorised institutions, certified by competent and concerned departments," she said. Last month, the top court was hearing an appeal by firecracker manufacturers seeking modification of the Supreme Court’s April 3, 2025, order completely banning the manufacturing, storage, sale and use of firecrackers - including those in the green category - in Delhi-NCR. A bench of Chief Justice of India B R Gavai, Justice K Vinod Chandran and Justice N V Anjaria had asked the Centre to take all stakeholders along and come out with a plan by October 7, when it will hear the matter next. The court had enquired if the ban on firecrackers in Delhi-NCR was because its people were “elite citizens of this country… entitled to pollution-free air”. CJI Gavai had said that if polluted air had become “a national problem”, any policy to deal with it should be “on a pan-India basis”. “If firecrackers are going to be banned, let them be banned throughout the country,” he said.
