Supreme Court: Temporary regime for green firecrackers ordered, full ban from 9 Nov 2026

The Supreme Court, by a judgment dated 29 October 2026 (2026 INSC 1181), dismissed the petition for an immediate total prohibition of firecracker manufacture, sale and use in the National Capital Region and instead ordered a temporary, tightly‑controlled regime for CSIR‑NEERI‑approved ‘green’ crackers, with a full ban to take effect from 9 Nov 2026.

The petitioners and intervenors had sought either a complete ban on firecrackers or the restoration of licences that had been suspended after earlier court‑ordered prohibitions. The Court noted that previous bans had been poorly implemented, that air‑quality index readings in Delhi‑NCR continued to rise during Diwali despite those orders, and that the government had not produced conclusive scientific evidence to support a permanent prohibition. The central issue before the Court was whether the prevailing circumstances warranted an outright ban or a regulated framework for environmentally‑friendly crackers.

Finding the scientific data insufficient to justify a permanent prohibition, the Court balanced the constitutional right to freedom of religion with the right to a healthy environment and the need to curb illegal firecrackers. It directed that only CSIR‑NEERI‑approved green crackers could be sold within designated zones during prescribed timings, that licences be restored on payment of security deposits, and that each batch carry a QR‑code for verification. Monitoring would be undertaken by the pollution control boards, with mandatory compliance reports and contempt provisions for any violation of the scheme.

Read the judgment and its head note on DLJ: Arjun Gopal vs Union Of India (2026 INSC 1181).