SC Gives 2 Hours To Telangana People To Burst Crackers

In a reprieve to the people of Telangana, hit by a High Court ban on the bursting of firecrackers for Deepavali, the Supreme Court (SC) today gave its nod for the bursting of crackers, with some riders.

The SC came out in support of the National Green Tribunal orders on limits on bursting crackers - NGT has allowed the bursting of green crackers on Deepavali in cities where air quality is "moderate", for two hours from 8 pm to 10 pm - to avoid pollution and the spread of the coronavirus.

The SC has thus allowed the people of Telangana to celebrate Diwali by bursting the crackers for two hours in the night, amending the Telangana High Court orders banning bursting crackers outright.

The apex court passed these orders reacting to a lunch motion petition by the Telangana Fire Workers Dealers Association.

Based on the High Court orders yesterday, the state government had issued orders banning the sale, purchase and use of firecrackers. However, now with these new orders from the SC, the government amended its orders to pave the way for the bursting of green crackers for two hours from 8 pm to 10 pm.