Now Reading: SC permits next-gen green crackers, no total ban
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SC permits next-gen green crackers, no total ban
The Story in Brief
The Supreme Court on Wednesday, 30 September, ruled out a total ban on firecrackers nationwide while also refusing to allow round-the-clock use, saying a total ban would hurt public sentiment and 24-hour use would harm the old, sick and children. A bench of Justices MM Sundresh and PB Varale said it would specify timings for bursting permissible crackers.
The court accepted the Centre's recommendation to permit 'specified next-generation joined green crackers' (laris) developed by CSIR-NEERI, subject to prescribed noise and safety limits. Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati told the court these crackers recorded noise below 125 decibels and did not use barium. The court gave the Central Pollution Control Board time until 15 October to complete open-ground tests for barium-based firecrackers at four locations.
The court also noted overlapping issues with the MC Mehta case and suggested both be heard together by a common bench. Further hearing is set for 15 October.
Indian Opinion Analysis
Coverage across all nine sources is uniform straight reporting of the court's proceedings, with no discernible slant. Every outlet leads with the court's middle-ground position, attributing the 'no total ban, no 24-hour use' line to the bench and the green-cracker recommendation to ASG Bhati. The Hindu's explanatory piece adds depth on CSIR-NEERI's science but does not editorialise. The only difference is that Siasat and The New Indian Express note the MC Mehta case overlap, while others omit it. The key open point is the 15 October deadline for CPCB's barium assessment, which every source reports identically.
Coverage: 9 sources, 9 neutral
Sources (9): barandbench.com (neutral report), hindustantimes.com (neutral report), hindustantimes.com (2) (neutral report), thehindu.com (neutral report), timesofindia.indiatimes.com (neutral report), newindianexpress.com (neutral report), timesofindia.indiatimes.com (2) (neutral report), siasat.com (neutral report), thehindu.com (2) (neutral report)
This brief was synthesised by AI from the 9 sources linked above, so one read covers every framing they carry. Methodology and corrections.
Update, 1 October 2026: this story now draws on 9 sources.
