The Supreme Court of India will hear a plea today against the High Court order banning the sale, purchase and use of all firecrackers in West Bengal.
Earlier, the High Court of West Bengal had banned firecrackers during Kali Puja, Diwali and other festivities.
A special bench of justices A. M. Khanwilkar and Ajay Rastogi would hear the plea.
The plea claims that the October 29 order passed by the high court was “patently erroneous.”
The Supreme Court has allowed the use of green firecrackers within permissible limits across all states.
The plea filed by the chairman of a West Bengal-based firecracker association and another group notes:
“The high court failed to appreciate that green crackers with reduced emission by a minimum of 30 percent have been introduced in the local market. These are environment friendly.”
In its order, the High Court had said that the expression “firecrackers” will cover all types of sparklers as well as other similar materials.
“The state should ensure that there is no use or display or bursting of firecrackers of any type at all during Kali Puja, Diwali celebrations as well as Chhath Puja, Jagadhatri Puja, Guru Nanak’s Birthday and Christmas and New Year’s Eve celebrations this year.”
The high court has ordered the police to maintain a strict vigil and take appropriate measures against those found violating the order.
It has also added that only wax or oil-based diyas may be used for the occasions.
The current plea requests ex-parte interim stay on the operation of the high court order.
“The high court failed to appreciate that the firecrackers manufacturers under the supervision and guidance of the competent authorities of both the central and state government are now engaged in manufacturing only green crackers which conform to permissible smoke and noise levels in terms of the directions of the apex court and the National Green Tribunal.”
The petitioners represent the interest of about seven lakh families who are involved in the fireworks industry.
Due to this ban on the sale and use of firecrackers people have suffered irreparable losses which may lead to the shutdown of the firecracker industry.
