The Supreme Court on Monday criticized the Delhi Police for their inadequate efforts in enforcing the firecracker ban, calling it a mere “eyewash.”
The Court expressed its dissatisfaction with the police’s actions, which had been limited to seizing raw materials without fully implementing the ban.
A bench of Justices Abhay S. Oka and Augustine George Masih directed the Delhi Police Commissioner to immediately inform all relevant stakeholders about the ban and ensure that no firecrackers are sold or manufactured.
The Court further instructed the Commissioner to set up a special cell to ensure the effective enforcement of the ban and file a personal affidavit detailing the steps taken to implement the order.
The bench also questioned the delay by the Delhi government in enforcing the firecracker ban, which was only imposed on October 14 despite the order being issued earlier.
“The right to live in a pollution-free atmosphere is a fundamental right under Article 21 of the Constitution,” the Court remarked. It added that, “prima facie, no religion promotes any activity that causes pollution or harms the health of the people.”
Additionally, the Supreme Court asked the Delhi government to consult relevant stakeholders and make a decision on the possibility of a “perpetual” firecracker ban by November 25.
