India

Supreme Court Permits Green Firecrackers for Two Days, Activists and Traders Voice Concerns

By Nikhil M Babu

The Supreme Court’s ruling on Monday, November 2, 2026, permits green firecrackers to be used on November 7 and 8. Environmental activists question how the restrictions can be enforced with such short notice, while traders warn that the limited window offers little time to secure stock. Historically, Delhi has seen widespread flouting of firecracker bans. In 2019, when only green crackers were allowed and months were given for preparation, the ban was openly ignored and many shops ran out of stock. A later Delhi government ban, which included green firecrackers for a few months around Diwali, was also widely flouted. Last year, the Supreme Court lifted the ban temporarily for a two‑day window during Deepavali, but the ban was again ignored and air quality stations in Delhi reached maximum levels. “Unless there is a blanket ban on firecrackers, people will burst all types of firecrackers in the city. We have seen that over the years, including last year. Even after the ban was reimposed after Deepavali last year, people continued to burst firecrackers for marriages, concerts and everything else in Delhi,” said Bhavreen Kandhari, an environmental activist. “There are no green firecrackers available in the market. Also, who will check on the ground, and how, what type of firecrackers people are bursting? The air will be toxic again after Deepavali,” she added. Rajiv Kumar Jain, 68, a member of the Delhi Fireworks Traders Association, welcomed the court order but expressed concern that the short notice would leave traders with little time to procure sufficient stocks. “Our permanent licences have been suspended, and we need to get them reinstated tomorrow. We can sell only on November 4, 5 and 6. That leaves us only one day to get the firecrackers from the manufacturers, which is very difficult,” Mr. Jain said. “Last year, too, we were allowed to sell for only three days, but we were allowed to sell on Chhoti and Badi Deepavali. This year, however, we are not allowed to sell on either Chhoti or Badi Deepavali,” he added. The firecracker ban has also been politically contentious. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) repeatedly criticised the Aam Aadmi Party government, which was then in power in Delhi, over the restrictions. After coming to power last year, the BJP government approached the Supreme Court, seeking permission to allow green firecrackers. Published - November 03, 2026 04:30 am IST