Supreme Court allows sale, use of green firecrackers in Delhi-NCR during Deepavali

The Supreme Court on Wednesday, October 15, 2025, relaxed the earlier blanket ban and allowed the sale and use of green firecrackers in Delhi-National Capital Region (NCR), subject to strict conditions.

A bench comprising Chief Justice of India BR Gavai and Justice K. Vinod Chandran allowed the sale of green firecrackers between October 18 and October 21, stipulating that the sales should be held only at designated places. The court also limited their use to the hours between 6-7 a.m. and 8-10 p.m.

Also Read | Total ban on fireworks won’t work, balanced approach needed: Supreme Court

The Bench made it clear that sale of fireworks through e-commerce platforms will continue to be strictly prohibited.

Explaining the reasoning behind its decision, the court observed that the absolute ban was counterproductive and led to the smuggling of traditional fireworks, which was much more damaging to air quality. “Traditional fireworks are being hijacked, causing more damage. We need to take a balanced approach,” Bench said.

In an earlier hearing, the Board had signaled that it may reconsider its April 3 order that imposed a one-year ban on the production, storage, sale and use of fireworks in the national capital. This order, passed by the Bench of Justices Abhay S. Oka and Ujjal Bhuyan, was justified on the grounds that a limited seasonal restriction would be of little use as the sale and use of fireworks would continue beyond the limited period.

The petitioners, including the Fireworks Traders Federation, Fireworks Association (Haryana) and Indic Collective Trust, had argued that the ban was arbitrary and lacked scientific basis. They had argued that stubble burning and vehicle emissions contribute much more to Delhi’s winter pollution.

Last month, the Supreme Court had allowed manufacturers with valid certificates from the National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI) and the Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organization (PESO) to continue production of green firecrackers while maintaining the restriction on their sale within the NCR. The court had then observed that a blanket ban was unenforceable in the absence of an effective enforcement mechanism and directed the government to propose a more balanced regulatory framework.

The Commission on Air Quality Management (CAQM) subsequently informed the court that enforcement gaps remained. He emphasized that some manufacturers are alleged to be selling QR codes to unlicensed manufacturers, and that there is no robust mechanism to verify whether certified fireworks are actually being sold on the market.