SUPREME COURT FLAGS OPEN SALE OF FIRECRACKERS IN DELHI DESPITE STRICT DIWALI RESTRICTIONS
November 3, 2026
NEW DELHI, NOVEMBER 3: The Supreme Court on Tuesday expressed concern over the alleged open sale of conventional and uncertified firecrackers in Delhi markets, despite its recent order permitting only certified green firecrackers ahead of Diwali.
A bench comprising Justices M.M. Sundresh and Prasanna B. Varale referred to a media report published on Tuesday that highlighted the availability of different varieties of firecrackers in several markets across the national capital. The report claimed that both licensed and unlicensed products, including those carrying QR codes and those without them, were being openly sold.
The court asked Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati to examine the alleged violations. Justice Sundresh observed that the report indicated that firecrackers of various categories remained available in shops notwithstanding the court's restrictions.
The observations came a day after the Supreme Court, on November 2, permitted the sale of certified green firecrackers in Delhi-NCR from November 4 to 6, with their use allowed on November 7 and 8, subject to specified conditions.
Under the court's directions, firecrackers can be burst only between 6 am and 7 am and between 8 pm and 10 pm on those two days. A complete ban is scheduled to return from November 9.
The court has stipulated that only firecrackers certified by the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research–National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (CSIR-NEERI) and the Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation (PESO) can be manufactured and sold. Sales have been restricted to designated locations, while online sales have been prohibited.
Each firecracker box must carry a product-specific QR code to enable verification of its certification. The manufacture of firecracker strings, commonly known as laris, and crackers containing barium has also been prohibited.
The Supreme Court's latest observations have brought the enforcement of its Diwali firecracker restrictions under renewed scrutiny, with the court asking the authorities to examine reports of widespread violations in the capital.
