Delhi NCR Mocks at SC’s “Child Within Us” Firecracker Verdict

Given the sight of the sky and the stench in the air, the very premise of SC’s green cracker verdict has now turned into a public mockery.

By MANISH ANAND

New Delhi, October 21, 2025 — Rockets fired by firecracker enthusiasts landed in balconies of high-rise buildings with unfailing regularity. From sunset to sunrise, Diwali revellers boomed the skyline with their boxes of firecrackers, paining the sky dark with smoke and pounding hearts of children and elders with powerful bursts.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta had pleaded with the two-judge Supreme Court bench for “the child within us” to celebrate Diwali with joy. Chief Justice of India B. R. Gavai acceded to Mehta’s plea and allowed firecrackers withing a set of guidelines.

Diwali revellers burnt the guidelines, stipulated by the Supreme Court, to ashes, with josh that there will be no other night to pour the pent-up emotions. Justice Gavai seemingly showed an unflinching faith in the ability of the police to enforce the guidelines.

Claims suggest that Delhi almost switched off the pollution monitoring tools to let the Delhi rejoice in bursting years of firecracker emotions. Nagendra Sharma is a journalist turned former information advisor of Arvind Kejriwal, ex-CM of the national capital.

In a post on X, formerly Twitter, Sharma wrote: “Though tonight may again be called a ‘Green Crackers’ night, the toxic haze tells another story. Delhi deserves answers: Why was CPCB’s PM2.5 and PM10 data unavailable from 7 PM (Oct 20) to 6 AM (Oct 21); How did AQI stay “static” — 343 at 5 PM and 347 at 6 AM — even as residents complained of choking air; and why did most DPCC stations stop reporting between 11 PM and 6 AM in that crucial window?”

Taste of chemical even within one’s house and eye irritations a day after Diwali give credence to claims of Sharma. Diwali lit by firecrackers has a contested history and claims of Sanatan traditions are most likely an invention of recent years. An article in right-wing OpIndia links the tradition to Mughal-era.

The SC verdict had stipulated following guidelines: “Green crackers will be permitted for sale and use only between October 18 and October 20, from designated outlets approved by district authorities. Only QR-coded green crackers approved by NEERI can be sold. Police patrol teams, in coordination with district administration and pollution boards, will oversee compliance.”

Use of green crackers will be restricted to specific time slots — 6:00–7:00 a.m. and 8:00–10:00 p.m. on Naraka Chaturdashi and Diwali day, added the verdict, which also stated: “Crackers containing barium or non-approved chemicals remain banned. The sale of ladis (chain crackers) continues to be prohibited.”

Judges of the Supreme Court reside in Delhi’s comfort zone. Given the sight of the sky and the stench in the air, the Supreme Court may not wait for the pollution board’s reports from October 14–25 — for the very premise of its verdict has now turned into a public mockery.

(This is an opinion piece, and views expressed are those of the author only)

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About The Author

Manish Anand

Manish Anand is a senior journalist with more than two decades of hardcore reporting on beats such as Prime Minister’s Office, Parliament, BJP, Congress, Planning Commission, NITI Aayog, and scores of Union Ministries.

His past has been with The New Indian Express, The Asian Age/Deccan Chronicle, and The Statesman.

For about 15 years, Manish was also a regular commentator and host for talks on AIR on foreign affairs.

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