Ban on the use of barium and banned chemicals in firecrackers, applied to the entire country not just to Delhi-NCR: Supreme Court

On November 07, 2023, the Supreme Court (SC) clarified that its earlier directions of banning the use of barium and banned chemicals in firecrackers are applied to the entire country not just to the National Capital Region, Delhi. The same was clarified by a two-judge SC bench comprising Justice AS Bopanna and Justice MM Sundresh while hearing an application seeking directions to the state of Rajasthan to agree with the SC order in connection with the ban on barium crackers to minimize both air and noise pollution during the festive season. 

The SC bench ordered, “At this juncture, no specific order will be necessary in as much as this Court in the course of hearing the petitions has passed several orders, where steps have been indicated to minimize and avoid air as well as noise pollution. Hence the said orders will bind every state in the country, including the state of Rajasthan. Therefore, we make it clear that the state of Rajasthan would also take note of this and take all steps to minimize air and noise pollution, not only during the festival season but even thereafter.”

During the Supreme Court proceedings on November 07, the counsel appearing for the applicant told the SC bench that “There seems to be a perception that your lordship’s orders are only restricted to Delhi-NCR, whereas your lordships have made it clear that it applies throughout the country.” The bench also clarified that there is no complete ban on the use of firecrackers and said that only those crackers are banned which are found harmful or injurious to health.