Supreme Court bans sale of fire crackers in Delhi-NCR to curb rising air pollution

The Supreme Court on Friday banned the sale of fire crackers in Delhi and NCR region until further notice in wake of the alarming air pollution in the region.

The top court has asked the Central Pollution Control Board to file a reply within three months regarding harmful effects of fire crackers.

Environmentalists were seeking courts intervention in passing orders for ban on sale of firecrackers due to considerable increase in level of pollution in the national capital.

The sale of fire crackers will be enforce from today onwards till further order or any hearing by the apex court.

The three-judge bench headed by Chief Justice of India, Tirath Singh Thakur passed this verdict.

Earlier, the bench had asked Arjun Gopal, one of the petitioners of the case to put all the materials on record with respect to extent of damage caused by the pollutants on health.

In the wake of rising air pollution in the national capital earlier Delhi Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung also decided to ban use of firecrackers, except at religion functions.