"Pollution Will Affect COVID Patients & May Spread COVID": Rajasthan High Court Refuses To Interfere With Firecracker Ban Order

The Bench of Justice Chandra Kumar Songara and Justice Pankaj Bhandari was hearing a Writ Petition preferred by the petitioners aggrieved by the advisory dated 2.11.2020 issued by the Department of Home, to the licensing authority not to issue the licenses for fireworks.

The Plea also sought quashing of the amendment made in the regulations whereby regulations 14 and 15 have been added and a complete ban has been put on sale and use of firecrackers till 15^th December 2020.

It was also prayed before the Court that State Authorities be directed to grant a temporary license to the traders to manufacture and sell firecrackers during Diwali festival of the specific quality of green crackers and less polluting firecrackers.

Court's Order

In this context, the Court said,

"Pollution is having a direct effect on the patients who have been infected by Covid-19. Apex Court has also put restrictions on the use of firecrackers during the Diwali festival, and specifying a particular time when the firecrackers could be burnt. The primary thing is the satisfaction of the Government while issuing the Notification dated 3.11.2020 and by adding regulations 14 and 15, Government has banned the sale of fireworks and use of fireworks."

The Court further said,

"It is evident that as on date, no license has been issued by the State to the petitioners or the persons dealing with fireworks. The contention of the counsel for the petitioners is that they have a reasonable legitimate expectation that license would be issued. This cannot be a ground for directing the State for quashing the order passed by the State or for directing the State to impose reasonable restrictions."

The Court also noted that the State has, while issuing the Notification, considered the representation given by the experts which was to the effect that use of firecrackers could have a serious impact on patients having asthma, patients infected with Covid-19 and COPD patients.

Importantly, the Court observed

"Pollution is bound to have an effect on the patients who are already suffering from Covid-19 and may also result in spreading of Covid-19 from asymptomatic patients."

Lastly, the Court said that "the regulations issued by the Government banning the use of firecrackers cannot be said to be violative of the rights of the petitioners."

Thus, the writ petitions were dismissed.

The Order of the NGT

The National Green Tribunal on Monday (09^th November) imposed a total ban on sale/ use of all kinds of firecrackers in Delhi NCR from the midnight of November 9-10, 2020 to the midnight of November 30 - December 1, 2020.

The direction will also apply to all cities/ towns in the country where the average of ambient air quality during November (as per available data of last year) fall under 'poor' and above category.

The Tribunal has also directed All States/UTs/PCBs/PCCs that they may initiate special drives to contain air pollution from all sources in view of potential of aggravation of Covid-19.

The Chief Secretaries and DGPs of all the States/UTs have been told that may issue and circulate an appropriate order in above terms with appropriate enforcement guidelines to all the District Magistrates and Superintendents of Police, PCBs/PCCs.

Calcutta High Court's order

The Calcutta High Court on Thursday (05^th November) banned the use and sale of firecrackers on Kali Puja in the wake of the COVID-19 outbreak.

The Bench of Justice Sanjib Banerjee and Justice Arijit Banerjee ordered,

"The State should ensure that there is no use or display or bursting of firecrackers at all during the Kali Puja and Diwali celebrations."

Further, the Supreme Court on Wednesday (11^th November) affirmed the Calcutta High Court order banning the sale and bursting of firecrackers during Diwali, Chatt Puja, Kali Puja, etc in the entire state of West Bengal.

A vacation bench of Justices D Y Chandrachud and Indira Banerjee dismissed the special leave petition filed against the November 5 order passed by a division bench of the High Court.

Telangana High Court's Order

Noting that since the Government has not declared any ban on the use of fireworks so far, but considering the fact that the lives of the people need to be protected, that uncontrolled and untrammelled use of fireworks may jeopardise the lives of many, the Telangana High Court on Thursday directed the State to immediately ban the sale and use of fireworks by the people and by organisations.

The bench of Chief Justice Raghavendra Singh Chauhan and Justice B. Vijaysen Reddy was hearing a PIL by advocate-petitioner-in-person, Mr. P. Indra Prakash, for seeking the relief that the Government should be directed to ban the sale and use of firecrackers (fireworks) by the people during the Diwali festival.

Notably, the Supreme Court on Friday (13^th November) modified the order of Telangana High Court which imposed a complete and immediate ban on the sale and use of firecrackers across the state during Diwali to fall in line with the directions imposed by the National Green Tribunal on November 9.

Karnataka High Court's Order

On Thursday (12^th November), the Karnataka High Court directed the state government to issue an order tomorrow itself clarifying the meaning of "Green Crackers" and give wide publicity to it so that members of the public are aware of it.

A division bench of Chief Justice Abhay Oka and Justice S Vishwajith Shetty said :

"State government has banned bursting of any crackers except green crackers and that permission is granted to burst crackers between 8 pm to 10 pm. However, orders do not record and specify the meaning of green crackers. Prima facie it appears to us that order is ineffective as the state has not bothered to lay down what is the meaning of green crackers."

However, the Karnataka High Court on Friday directed authorities of the state government, officers of local bodies and police to make visits to stalls selling firecrackers and ensure that only 'green crackers' having the logo of CSIR-NEERI as well as PESO and QR code are sold on the stalls.