The Supreme Court set aside Calcutta High Court order imposing ban on sale, purchase and use of all firecrackers to curb air pollution amid Covid-19 pandemic.

While hearing the petitions filed against the high court order, a special bench of the apex court, comprising justices A M Khanwilkar and Ajay Rastogi, said in the order, "For the time being we only reiterate the position recorded in the order of the Supreme Court on 29th October 2021. Additionally, the State of WB will explore the possibility of ensuing that no banned materials are imported. The mechanism may be strengthened".

After the High Court verdict, the state administration ordered to maintain the ban and instructed officials to keep a strict vigil on the use and sale of firecrackers.

This comes after the West Bengal government allowed bursting of only green crackers between 8 pm and 10 pm during Kali Puja, Diwali and Chhath.  The Calcutta HC last Friday ordered a blanket ban on firecrackers, including green crackers, up to December 31 this year.

The petitioners challenging the ban had said the high court failed to appreciate that green crackers with reduced emission by a minimum of 30 percent have been introduced in the local market.

The plea was filed by the chairman of a West Bengal-based firecracker association and another such group.

The petitioners had said that they represent the interest of about seven lakh families who are involved in the process of manufacture and sale of fireworks and are involved in the fireworks industry in one manner or another.

Image Courtesy: TOI