The Supreme Court on Tuesday is most likely to give Verdict on a plea that sought the ban on manufacture and sale of firecrackers across the country to curb the level of air pollution.
With Diwali fast approaching, the sale of firecrackers is expected to take a swing as will be level of increase in air and noise pollution. The sale of crackers was banned in Delhi last year, owing to the heavy pollution in the national capital.
Buoyed by the temporary ban of firecrackers in Delhi for a year, another petition was filed seeking the countrywide ban on the manufacture, sale and possession of the firecrackers. It reasoned how the gas emitted by those crackers affect the environment and public health.
A bench of Justices AK Sikri and Ashok Bhushan, which had reserved its verdict on August 28 will pronounce the judgement,” said a report in PTI.
The petitioners while filing the petition has sought for a clean and healthy environment, reasoning that it is a right and need for the betterment and growth of the environment. Delhi has been the most polluted city in the world and health-related illnesses primarily target the youngest of its citizens,” said the petition, reports NDTV.
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But the apex court while temporarily banning the sale and manufacture of firecrackers in Delhi had also refused to issue a complete ban on sale of crackers during Diwali across the country, saying that it has to take into account all the aspects, which includes the income and livelihood of those manufacturers and sellers as well as the sound health of the billion people in the country.
It had, however, suggested that certain conditions and measures could be implemented for curbing the pollution.
A report from the news agency states that Article 21 of the constitution applies to both segments of the people (the manufacturers, sellers and the public) and therefore the court needs to keep a balance between the two while considering the countrywide ban of the firecrackers.
Earlier, the firecracker manufacturers had also raised an issue, pointing out that a ban will cost thousands their livelihood. They reasoned that firecrackers should not be held as the sole reason for pollution during Diwali and many other factors such as wind and temperature also contribute to it. The sell and use of firecrackers instead should be restricted.
The SC in 2016 had banned the sale of firecrackers in Delhi after receiving a petition from three children. It had raised concerns over the growing respiratory problems among the children due to air pollution and also mentioned that post-Diwali the air of the national capital had been the worst, which even led to Delhi being labelled as the most polluted city in the world.
Meanwhile, on October 9 last year, the apex court had temporarily banned the sale of firecrackers ahead of Diwali. It also refused to lift its order even after receiving a plea from the traders, who sought permission to sell crackers for at least two days before Diwali.
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Image Source: Hindustan Times