Ban on polluting firecrackers: Here’s what Supreme Court said in its latest order

The Supreme Court on Tuesday issued a clarification on its previous directions against the use of barium and banned chemicals in firecrackers. The Apex Court categorically stated that its previous directions are applicable across the country, binding all states and not just the Delhi-National Capital Region.

This observation was made by the Top Court while responding to a plea over high pollution levels in Udaipur, falling air quality index and lack of regulations to demarcate noise pollution levels.

“Saying that no fresh directions are needed, the Court directed the state of Rajasthan to take specific note of the previous orders and reiterated that its orders are binding on all states in the country,” a Live Law report said.

A bench of Justice A S Bopanna and Justice M M Sundresh today said in its order that, “No specific order will be necessary in as much as this Court in the course of hearing the petitions has passed several orders, where steps have been indicated to minimise and avoid air as well as noise pollution Hence the said orders will bind every state in the country, including the state of Rajasthan. Therefore, we make it clear that the state of Rajasthan would also take note of this and take all steps to minimize air and noise pollution, not only during the festival season, but even thereafter,” the report added.