New Delhi

The Supreme Court expressed concern on Monday about the lack of enforcement of the firecracker ban in Delhi and requested an affidavit from the Delhi government and Police Commissioner explaining their actions to uphold the ban. During a hearing on a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) aimed at addressing air pollution, Justice Abhay S. Oka highlighted reports indicating that the ban was largely ignored. He emphasized the need for the Delhi government to clarify why this failure occurred and indicated that a notice would be issued to the Police Commissioner for non-compliance.

The court instructed both the Delhi government and police to outline their plans for reducing pollution in the upcoming year. They requested that the affidavit include details about any fire incidents related to firecrackers in the city. The court also called for a permanent ban on firecrackers. Additionally, it asked the governments of Punjab and Haryana to provide updates on stubble burning in their areas over the last ten days of October.

The amicus curiae assisting the court reported that pollution levels during Diwali night were notably higher than in the previous two years. The court recommended sealing the premises of firecracker sellers and banning the import of firecrackers from neighboring states. The next hearing on this matter is scheduled for November 14.