The Supreme Court has indicated a move to ease the complete prohibition on using and selling firecrackers in Delhi-NCR during Diwali. A bench led by Chief Justice B.R. Gavai and Justice K. Vinod Chandran reserved its decision, but suggested that a temporary reprieve may be granted for five days around the festival.

While the court did not immediately lift the ban, it remarked: “For the time being, we will permit the ban lifting during Diwali.”  The relaxation would be within fixed slots, as sought by the government, such as 8 pm to 10 pm on Diwali and 11:55 pm to 12:30 am on New Year’s Eve.  It also considered allowing usage during weddings, other personal occasions, and on major festivals.

During hearings, the government argued children should not be limited to only two hours of celebration.  The bench also expressed concern about “fake green crackers” being sold under misleading labels yet still causing pollution