Case Title: M.C. Mehta v. Union of India, W.P. (C) No. 13029 of 1985.
In a significant ruling concerning the use of firecrackers during Diwali, the Supreme Court has emphasized that public health and environmental protection must take precedence over commercial interests and festive enthusiasm. Allowing the limited use of green crackers in the National Capital Region (NCR), the Court stated that cultural or religious traditions cannot be invoked to justify practices that endanger citizens’ health or degrade the environment.
The Bench comprising Chief Justice of India BR Gavai and Justice K. Vinod Chandran observed, “Commercial interests and the festive spirit must yield when the environment and public health are at stake.” The Court lifted the blanket ban on firecrackers in NCR and permitted the sale of green crackers from October 18 to October 20, 2025, while allowing their use on October 19 and 20 between 6:00–7:00 AM and 8:00–10:00 PM. Authorities have been directed to closely monitor compliance and prevent the use of unauthorised firecrackers.
Acknowledging that the bursting of crackers is embedded in India’s cultural and religious celebrations, the Court nonetheless underscored that such traditions cannot come at the expense of the right to life and clean air. It noted that while firecrackers symbolize festivity and joy, their uncontrolled use poses serious short- and long-term health hazards, particularly for vulnerable groups such as children, the elderly, and those with respiratory ailments.
The Court also addressed the ongoing problem of illegal manufacturing and smuggling of conventional firecrackers, which often results in higher emissions compared to the environmentally safer green variants. Stressing the need for balance, the Bench stated, “We must adopt a moderated approach that considers competing interests without compromising environmental concerns.”
The states of Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and Rajasthan expressed apprehensions over the impact of restrictions, with Haryana noting that 14 of its 22 districts fall within the NCR. The Court recognized these administrative challenges but reiterated that environmental protection and public health must remain paramount.
Calling for responsible celebration and increased public awareness, the judges remarked that it is the indiscriminate and uninformed use of firecrackers that exacerbates pollution levels.
