New Delhi, 11th November 2024: The Supreme Court of India reprimanded the Delhi police on Monday, criticizing their inadequate efforts to enforce the ban on firecrackers despite the court’s previous directive. The bench emphasized that the right to live in a pollution-free environment is a fundamental right under Article 21 of the Constitution, and expressed concern over the insufficient actions taken by the police, who had only seized raw materials rather than fully implementing the ban.
A bench consisting of Justices Abhay S Oka and Augustine George Masih ordered the Delhi Police Commissioner to set up a specialized unit to oversee the effective enforcement of the firecracker ban in the National Capital Region (NCR). The court also instructed the Commissioner to file a personal affidavit detailing the actions taken to ensure compliance with the ban.
The Supreme Court further stated that no religion endorses activities that harm public health or contribute to pollution. The court also directed the Delhi government to decide on a permanent ban on firecrackers by November 25.
This ruling comes amid alarming pollution levels in Delhi, which reached unprecedented highs this Diwali, surpassing previous years. The Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) had already banned the production, storage, sale, and use of firecrackers until January 1, 2025, and tasked the Delhi Police with enforcing the restrictions.
The court had previously expressed frustration with the lack of coordination between the Centre, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM), and the governments of Punjab and Haryana over stubble burning, criticizing the CAQM’s response as insufficient and largely symbolic. Recent weeks have seen Delhi battling hazardous air quality levels.
On Monday, Delhi’s air quality remained in the ‘very poor’ category, with an AQI of 349, according to SAFAR-India. Hospitals reported a rise in respiratory ailments, even among individuals with no prior breathing problems. The city was enveloped in thick smog, with visible toxic foam in the Yamuna River at Kalindi Kunj. AQI levels in various areas ranged from 206 at Sri Aurobindo Marg to 385 at Anand Vihar. Health experts have warned that the pollution is severely affecting vulnerable groups, particularly children and the elderly.