The Supreme Court refused to ban people from bursting firecrackers during Diwali, saying it might be “dangerous” to infringe into the common man’s right to enjoy his religious festivities.
Earlier in the day in 2005, a bench of Chief Justice H L Dattu and Justice Arun Kumar ordered that firecrackers not be set off after 10pm.
Refusing the plea made by three toddlers, who turned to the Supreme Court for relief against the air pollution caused by firecrackers during Diwali, a Bench led by Chief Justice H.L. Dattu said: “the court cannot stop people from bursting crackers in front of their homes.”
The court dismissed arguments made by senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi to prescribe a time limit and even designate public spaces where people can burst crackers.
“Sorry. We cannot tell everybody to go to some Nehru maidan and burst crackers,” the Chief Justice said.
The Supreme Court however pulled up the Centre for not publishing advertisements widely in the media warning of health hazards and to follow regulations concerning noise pollution.