Minors move Supreme Court for extension of cracker ban

The children, in their plea, also highlighted how Delhiites made a mockery of the Apex court’s order this year as firecrackers were sold by traders from their houses.

The three minors, on whose plea the Supreme Court had banned sale of crackers in Delhi-NCR ahead of Diwali, have moved a fresh plea seeking a nationwide ban and a dedicated police helpline for lodging complaints in this regard.

The children, in their plea, also highlighted how Delhiites made a mockery of the Apex court’s order this year as firecrackers were sold by traders from their houses. (Anshuman Poyrekar/HT Photo)

In the application the minors also said the sale of crackers in Delhi should not resume from November 1. They even want a ban on bursting crackers and not just the sale.

The children, in their plea, also highlighted how Delhiites made a mockery of the Apex court’s order this year as firecrackers were sold by traders from their houses. The police reportedly did not act on any complaint against those who burst crackers late into the night of Diwali.

Fearing that the use of crackers during the wedding season would again choke the city, the children now want the Supreme Court not to let the sale of fireworks begin from November 1. The top court had on October 9 stopped the sale of firecrackers but had said the same could take place from November 1 onwards.

The children, in their plea, also cited news reports of how the use of firecrackers caused pollution in Chennai leading to flight delays due to smog.

Praying for a dedicated helpline for receiving complaints related to firecrackers was also made by the three applicants. The application shared how several residents of Safdarjung Enclave made police complaints against the bursting of firecrackers in their area this Diwali but got no response from the authorities.