Supreme Court Allows Sale & Use of Green Firecrackers in NCR, Lifts Absolute Ban for Diwali

While hearing a long-standing MC Mehta case concerning the air quality in the NCR (National Capital Region), the Supreme Court (SC) of India, today (October 15, 2025), lifted the absolute ban on the use of firecrackers in the NCR (Delhi). The SC bench of Chief Justice of India (CJI) BR Gavai and Justice K Vinod Chandran allowed the sale and use of green firecrackers for the Diwali festival. The top court issued certain directions in its order, and clarified that the “relaxation is only on a test case basis and the same shall be only for the period specified.” The directions are listed as follows:

1. “The sale of green crackers as uploaded on the website of NEERI shall be permitted commencing from 18.10.2025 and continuing only till 20.10.2025.
2. The sale of these products shall be permitted only from the designated locations in the entire National Capital Region which shall be identified by the District Collectors/Commissioners in consultation with the District Superintendent of Police and given wide publicity.
3. The police authorities, in consultation with the district administration shall constitute patrolling teams to keep a vigil on the designated locations of sale, including Officers as nominated from the Regional Offices of the State Pollution Control Boards. The patrol teams so constituted shall acquaint themselves with the green cracker products as uploaded in the website of NEERI and the registrations granted as also the QR Codes issued to individual manufacturers.
4. The patrol teams shall conduct regular reconnaissance in the designated sites to ensure that only the permitted products shall be sold and that too having the QR Codes issued. They shall also take random samples for the purpose of analysis, which shall be transmitted to PESO. On violations noticed, the responsibility shall attach to those involved in manufacturing or sale of prohibited products who shall not only be penalised but also their licence/registration from PESO or with NEERI shall stand cancelled
5. The district administration and the police shall ensure that use of firecrackers shall be confined between 6:00 AM to 7:00 AM and 8:00 PM to 10:00 PM on the two days i.e., the one before and on the Diwali day.
6. The sale shall be only through licensed traders and of the products i.e. the green crackers manufactured by those who are registered with the NEERI and obtained license from PESO. Any firecracker seized which are not manufactured by the registered/licensed manufacturers shall be immediately confiscated.
7. There shall be no firecrackers allowed into the NCR region from outside the said region.
8. The use of firecrackers with Barium and those not approved by the NEERI as green cracker, shall not be permitted and if found for sale or in the possession of individuals/traders, the same shall be confiscated immediately.
9. There shall be no manufacture or sale of firecrackers joined in series (laris).
10. There shall be no sale or purchase of firecrackers through e-commerce networks and any supply of such products shall be detained and the product confiscated.
11. The licences of traders, expired or cancelled after the ban was introduced shall be renewed for the period stipulated by the statutory authorities.
12. The Central Pollution Control Board, in consultation with the State Pollution Control Boards and their respective regional offices within the districts coming under the NCR shall monitor the air quality index in their respective jurisdictions starting from 14.10.2025 till 25.10.2025 and file a report before this Court, specifying the air quality of each day indicated hereinabove. Along with such monitoring the Regional Offices of the State Pollution Control Boards shall also take samples of sand and water from sites having more density of use for analysis.”

Along with this, the SC bench also opined, “The commercial considerations and the festive spirit should take a back seat when it concerns the environment and health.” It added, “Bursting firecrackers is an expression of the festive spirit and it enhances the mood in religious and other auspicious ceremonies, embedded in the cultural milieu of India. However that cannot lead to a situation of causing long term or even short term damage to health by an uncontrolled use, based only on traditions and cultural or religious norms.” After hearing the matter and considering all the concerns, the SC bench relaxed the absolute ban on firecrackers and allowed the use of green firecrackers with the above-mentioned directions.