NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Thursday refused an urgent hearing of a plea seeking removal of the complete ban on firecrackers in the national capital, saying “let the people of Delhi breathe clean air”. The plea was filed by BJP parliamentarian Manoj Tiwari. “People should not spend money on firecrackers; instead they should eat sweets,” a bench of Justices M R Shah and M M Sundresh said, adding that the plea would come up for hearing along with the main matter pending before the court. Track the pollution level in your cityOn the same day, Delhi High Court refused to entertain a petition challenging Delhi Pollution Control Committee’s (DPCC) complete ban on sale and use of all kinds of firecrackers in the city till January 1, 2023 to fight air pollution during winter. Justice Yashwant Varma dismissed the petition by two merchants who sought to “purchase, sell and store only green crackers” during the festive season. The judge said it was not appropriate for the high court to independently examine such a challenge when the issue “does appear to be engaging the attention” of the Supreme Court. The court, however, said the petitioners were free to initiate appropriate proceedings under the law to seek redressal of their grievances. “From the material placed on record, the court notes the issue of pollution as a result of use of firecrackers during Diwali was first considered by the Supreme Court (in a case). The petition remains pending on the board of the Supreme Court. Subsequently, another writ petition came to be preferred before the Supreme Court seeking the issuance of guidelines in respect of sale, purchase and bursting of permissible firecrackers. The writ petition also produces some of the banning orders issued by few states,” it noted. “In view of the aforesaid, it would not be appropriate for this court to entertain an independent challenge, especially since the issue does appear to be engaging the attention of the Supreme Court. Accordingly, while this writ petition stands dismissed, this order shall not preclude the petitioner from initiating such proceedings as may be permitted in law,” it noted. Green cracker merchants Shiva Fireworks and Jai Mata Stores approached the high court in September, challenging the ban imposed by DPCC on the production, sale, purchase and use of all kinds of firecrackers. The petitioners had emphasised that the “last-minute ban” imposed on September 14 was arbitrary and illegal, and affected their livelihood.
Source: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/delhi/let-people-breathe-clean-air-says-sc/articleshow/94996958.cms