Punjab HC allows cracker bursting for only 3 hrs

Even as the ban on sale of firecrackers continues in Delhi, Punjab and Haryana High Court has restricted the bursting of firecrackers in Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh to three hours on Diwali.

Taking suo moto cognizance of the alarming increase in air pollution ahead of the festive season, the High Court had issued notices to the Home Secretaries of the two states and the UT on the poor air quality due to firecrackers and directed them to submit details on the number of explosive licenses issued, including temporary and permanent.

While ruling out imposing any ban at the eleventh hour, considering a few days are left for the festival, the court restricted bursting of firecrackers from 6:30 pm to 9: 30 pm on Diwali. All Deputy Commissioners (DCs), SSPs and Police Commissioners would be required to ensure strict and meticulous compliance of the directions, regardless of the territorial locations.

Senior Advocate Anupam Gupta, who assisted the court as Amicus Curiae, told DNA, “The court has imposed a cap on the issue of licenses under the Explosive Acts. While there would be no issuance of permanent licenses under the Act, without the permission of the High Court henceforth, a cap of 20 per cent has also been imposed on the issue of temporary licenses. The total number of temporary licenses will not exceed 20 per cent of the number of licenses issued last year.”

Majority of the licenses issued ahead of the festival are temporary and all such licenses will now be issued only through draw of lots, to be conducted by the Deputy Commissioners. Traders can apply for the licenses only by 2 pm on October 16, which will be followed by draw of lots at 5 pm.

The firework traders of Chandigarh who are apprehending a major setback to their business, called for a total boycott of the draw of lots process scheduled on October 16.

“As many as 360 licences were issued last year, and this time, only 60 of us would be able to get the licence. What about hundreds of other traders? Our monetary losses have not even been considered once,” rued Devinder Singh, from Chandigarh Firework Traders Association.