Supreme Court Questions Enforcement of Firecracker Ban in Delhi, Demands Action Plan.

The Supreme Court has issued a notice to Delhi Police Commissioner, seeking an affidavit within a week on the steps taken to enforce the ban on firecrackers during Diwali, after observing that the ban was “hardly implemented.” Citing a report on air quality, the Court noted that Delhi’s pollution levels this Diwali reached an all-time high, surpassing previous years, with PM2.5 concentrations posing serious health risks.

The Court has directed both the Delhi Police Commissioner and the AAP government to provide affidavits detailing the actions taken to enforce this year’s firecracker ban and proposed measures to ensure effective compliance in the future.

In response to rising concerns, the bench of Justice Abhay Oka and Justice Augustine George Masih has also called for action from Punjab and Haryana authorities, instructing them to submit reports on instances of stubble burning around Diwali, a significant contributor to pollution in the region. The Delhi government was also asked to confirm any instances of crop fires within its boundaries during this period.

The Court plans to examine additional sources of pollution, including vehicular emissions, industrial activities, and the influx of heavy trucks into the capital, with the next hearing scheduled for November 14.

This urgent review follows alarming air quality readings across Delhi, where AQI levels in multiple locations, including Anand Vihar and Wazirpur, breached the “severe” 400 mark, underscoring the critical need for stringent enforcement and collaborative solutions.