SC moves to make festivals less noisy

SC moves to make festivals less noisy

News:

1. The Supreme Court (SC) has imposed conditions for the use and sale of firecrackers in the upcoming Diwali, Christmas and New year eve.

Important Facts:

2. A two-member bench held that only green or improved crackers would be used during religious festivals and other occasions, including weddings.
3. The “green crackers” are the ones which have low emission and permissible sound limits.
4. About the SC partial ban:

• Fixed time slots: The reduced time window is applicable across the country.
• The judgment reduced the time for bursting crackers during Deepavali and other festivals to two hours: between 8 p.m. and 10 p.m.
• For Christmas and New Year, the time slot allowed is just half-an-hour, between 11.55 p.m. and half-past midnight.
• Licenced traders: SC restricted the sale of green and improved crackers only through licensed traders.
• Banned sale via online sites: Any e-commerce company found selling crackers online will be held for contempt of court, and the court may also impose monetary penalties in that eventuality.
• Community engagement: It also directed the Centre to encourage community cracker bursting during Diwali and other festivals in Delhi-NCR.

5. Significance of the ban:

• Right balance: The Supreme Court has struck a balance between the interests of the firecracker industry and the right to public health by allowing the manufacture and sale of only “green” and reduced-emission or “improved” crackers, while banning those that are loud and toxic to man, animal and the environment.

6. Background:

● The ban came on the basis of a petition filed by two infants  through their fathers in 2015. Who pleaded for their right to life.

● Business persons dealing with firecrackers defended their case quoting other reasons for increase in air pollution like wind and temperature and said that ban would deprive them of their right to do business.

● The Centre, too, has opposed a complete ban on the sale of crackers during festivities across the country.