SC Slams Delhi Govt Over Firecracker Rule Violations

• Supreme Court calls non-compliance with firecracker directions a “mockery”.
• Delhi government and CAQM questioned over missing enforcement and impact data.
• Court seeks stronger ground monitoring on the days firecrackers are permitted.
• Winter pollution preparations questioned after a report flagged limited functioning CAQM units.

GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 29th Oct: The Supreme Court has pulled up the Delhi government and the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) over their failure to effectively implement directions regulating firecrackers during festivals, warning that repeated violations have turned its orders into a “mockery”.

A bench of Justices MM Sundresh and PB Varale questioned the authorities over the lack of concrete compliance and impact reports, asking what action had actually been taken on the ground.

“What did you actually do? Unless you can tell us what you have done, what is the point of passing orders? It becomes a mockery then,” the bench observed.

The Court sought details on whether enforcement teams constituted under its directions last year had visited identified areas, when the visits took place and what data they collected. It also asked whether authorities had assessed locations where the Air Quality Index (AQI) had spiked and compared them with areas where pollution levels had not risen.

Warning against repeating the same submissions in future hearings, the bench urged officials to “think now at a higher level”. It stressed that the issue concerned “every living being” and should not be treated as an adversarial matter.

Court Calls for Practical Approach to Festival Celebrations
The bench clarified that it was not advocating an absolute ban on firecrackers, but was seeking a balance between public sentiment and the need to protect the environment.

“We are not for absolute ban, we have been trying to balance it,” the Court said, asking authorities to focus on the two days when firecrackers are permitted and ensure that officers monitor compliance on the ground.

It also questioned whether regulating the sale of firecrackers alone could be effective, noting that traders would naturally seek to maximise business in response to demand.

The bench said the problem was not the “festival of light” but the use of firecrackers. It recalled the traditional practice of celebrating with lamps and suggested involving prominent public figures and celebrities, including cricketer Virat Kohli, to encourage people to avoid bursting crackers.

The Court said authorities should recognise public enthusiasm during festivals while ensuring that its directions are implemented rather than relying solely on legal action against individuals.

Winter Pollution Preparations Under Scrutiny
The observations came after authorities presented measures planned for the coming winter pollution season, including 608 anti-smog guns, electric vehicle charging infrastructure, greening initiatives and enhanced monitoring.

Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati submitted that the Delhi government had prepared an action plan and was ready for the pollution season.

However, the bench flagged a report by the amicus curiae indicating that only nine of the 29 CAQM units were functioning. It questioned the absence of detailed compliance and impact reports demonstrating whether the measures ordered by the Court had produced results.

The Court’s concerns centred on the gap between announced pollution-control measures and their implementation, with the bench pressing authorities to provide measurable evidence of enforcement and its impact.