New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday set aside the Calcutta High Court order to impose a blanket ban on firecrackers in West Bengal during the ongoing festival season.
Special bench Judge A M Khanwilkar and Ajay Rastogi said The Top Court had permitted the use of green crackers in areas where ambient air quality “moderate”.
The bench clarified that the previous order would apply to all countries uniformly and West Bengal could not be an exception.
“There is no complete ban on firecrackers.
The mechanism must be strengthened to stop abuse,” the Supreme Court while hearing the petition challenging the blanket ban.
The bench also asked the West Bengal government to explore the possibility to ensure that prohibited firecrackers and related items were not imported in the state at the entry point itself.
The High Court on October 29 has prohibited sales, use and purchasing all types of firecrackers in West Bengal.
Previously on that day, the Supreme Court said the West Bengal government and the state pollution control board had to be heard if there was a command to be forwarded to the request against the Calcutta High Court order that prohibited firecrackers during Puja times, Diwali and several other festivals this year to examine air pollution in the middle Covid-19 pandemic.
The reinforcement of the ban said the High Court failed to appreciate that green crackers with reduced emissions were at least 30 percent introduced in the local market.
The request was submitted by the Chairperson of the West Bengal-based firecrackers and such groups.
The applicant said that they represented the interest of around seven lakh families involved in the process of making and selling fireworks and involved in the fireworks industry with one or another.
(With input from PTI)