Supreme Court Rekindles ‘Inner Child’ in Green Crackers Verdict
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Supreme Court Allows Limited Use of Green Crackers in Delhi-NCR, Balances Emotions and Environment
By TRH News Desk
New Delhi, October 15, 2025 — In a decision blending emotion with environmental prudence, the Supreme Court on Wednesday permitted the limited sale and use of green crackers in Delhi-NCR ahead of Diwali, acknowledging the Centre’s plea that children should not be deprived of festive traditions.
The judgment, delivered by a two-judge bench led by Chief Justice B.R. Gavai, cited Solicitor General Tushar Mehta’s emotional argument that “the child within us” seeks to celebrate Diwali with joy. The court noted this appeal in its order, observing that while judges strive to suppress such impulses, “it would not be wrong to say that the Solicitor General’s plea awakened the child within.”
Balancing Festivity and Public Health
The court’s ruling carefully weighed the competing interests of public health, environmental protection, and livelihood concerns. It recognized that pollution affects vulnerable groups — the elderly, children, and those with respiratory illnesses — yet acknowledged the economic distress faced by workers in the firecracker industry.
Citing the Arjun Gopal case, where the court had first introduced the concept of green crackers, the bench noted that six years later, emission levels from such crackers have significantly reduced. The National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI), the apex body overseeing the green cracker model, has also contributed substantially to their development.
Strict Safeguards and Limited Sale Window
Under the Supreme Court’s directives, green crackers will be permitted for sale and use only between October 18 and October 20, from designated outlets approved by district authorities. The conditions include:
- 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.
- No e-commerce sales of crackers will be allowed.
- 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.
- Crackers containing barium or non-approved chemicals remain banned.
- The sale of ladis (chain crackers) continues to be prohibited.
The Central and State Pollution Control Boards have been directed to submit detailed air quality reports from October 14 to 25, while the Supreme Court registry will circulate the order to all district collectors across NCR. The matter will be reviewed after three weeks.
A Measured Step Toward Responsible Celebration
The judgment reflects an effort to balance sentiment and sustainability. It underscores that India’s courts are increasingly called upon to mediate between tradition and the urgent realities of climate and pollution crises.
As the bench put it, “We must adopt a balanced approach, allowing limited celebration without compromising environmental concerns.”
For Delhi-NCR residents, this Diwali will thus mark both continuity and change — a cautious spark under the watchful gaze of the law, where the joy of fireworks meets the duty of cleaner air.
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