You Can Burn Firecrackers This Diwali, although fireworks containing barium salts are prohibited: SC

The Supreme Court reaffirmed on Friday that there is no blanket ban on the use of pyrotechnics; only those containing Barium salts are illegal.

However, a bench of Justices M R Shah and A S Bopanna stated that no authority can be allowed to disregard its orders and enable forbidden firecrackers to be used in the name of celebration.

The supreme court also stated that celebrations cannot be held at the expense of another’s health.

Nobody can be allowed to infringe on the right to health of others, which is guaranteed under Article 21 of the Indian Constitution, and nobody can be allowed to play with the lives of others, particularly senior citizens and children, it said.

“It is made clear that the usage of firecrackers is not completely prohibited. Only those firecrackers are prohibited, as indicated herein, that are deemed to be harmful to residents’ health, notably the health of senior persons and children,” the bench stated.

The top court stated that any failure on the part of states, agencies, or UTs to execute a ban on firecrackers will be taken extremely seriously.

It ordered all states and union territories to make adequate public notice of the court’s orders prohibiting the manufacture, usage, and sale of outlawed firecrackers through electronic/print media and local cable services.