The Supreme Court has reiterated that its directions regulating the use of firecrackers are not confined to Delhi-NCR but are applicable to the entire country. The court had previously issued guidelines against the use of barium and banned chemicals in fireworks. In 2021, the Supreme Court had issued a series of directives to prevent the use of prohibited chemicals in fireworks leading up to Diwali. The court clarified that the ban was not all-encompassing and only applied to fireworks containing barium salts.
During a hearing regarding compliance with the ban on barium crackers in Rajasthan, Justice AS Bopanna emphasized that children tend not to burst crackers, but it is adults who do so. The court ruled that no new directions were necessary for Rajasthan and instructed the state to adhere to the previous orders. The court emphasized that its orders are binding on all states, including Rajasthan, and that steps must be taken to minimize air and noise pollution during and after the festival season.
In a separate hearing addressing the air pollution crisis in Delhi-NCR, the Supreme Court directed Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Haryana, and Delhi to take measures to halt stubble burning and control the escalating air pollution. Additionally, the Delhi Pollution Control Board Chairperson was instructed to investigate the non-operation of smog towers in the national capital.
