Supreme Court lifts ban on sale of firecrackers in Delhi-NCR with conditions

The Supreme Court on Tuesday modified its November 2016 order and lifted a ban on the sale of firecrackers in Delhi with conditions.

Lifting the suspension on the permanent licenses already granted, the supreme court put these licensees on notice for Dussehra and Diwali in 2018.

The court said that those granted licenses will be permitted to possess and sell only 50% of the quantity permitted in 2017 and it will substantially reduce over the next couple of years.

"Since there are enough fireworks available for sale in Delhi and the NCR, the transport of fireworks into Delhi and the NCR from outside the region is prohibited," the apex court said.

"Concerned law enforcement authorities will ensure that there is no further entry of fireworks into Delhi and the NCR till further orders," the court added.

In November 2016, the top court had banned the sale of fire crackers in Delhi and NCR region in wake of the alarming air pollution in the region. The environmentalists had sought courts intervention in passing orders for a ban on the sale of firecrackers due to a rising pollution.