Supreme Court issues notice in the matter alleging violation of Court order banning chemicals in fireworks

Supreme Court bench of Chief Justice SA Bobde, Justice AS Bopanna and Justice V Ramasubramanian, while hearing alleged violation of order banning use of certain chemicals in fireworks, issued notice in the interim applications today.

Senior Advocate Gopal Sankarnarayanan appeared for the Petitioners.

ASG Ms. Aishwarya Bhati for the CBI.

In the present matter, the Bench was hearing an application filed through Senior Advocate Mr Sankarnarayanan alleging violation of the Court order dated February 10, 2017, banning use of certain chemicals considered dangerous and beyond safety limits in the fireworks, by the manufacturers.

In the application it was submitted that the respondent manufacturers were using the same chemicals which were banned by the Court and that many respondent manufacturers were not labelling the products as directed by previous Court orders.

On March 3, 2020 Bench comprising Chief Justice, Justice BR Gavai and Justice Surya Kant issued notice to the respondents-manufacturers M/s Standard Fireworks, M/s Hindustan Fireworks, M/s Vinayaga Fireworks Industries, M/s Shree Mariamman Fireworks, M/s Shree Suryakala Fireworks and M/s Selva Vinayagar Fireworks, except respondent no.5, to show cause why they should not be punished for contempt of this Court for the alleged violation of this Court’s earlier orders.

“If the aforesaid allegations are true then there is no doubt that the respondents-manufacturers would be guilty of contempt of this Court.”, the Bench remarked. 

The Bench also directed the Joint Director, Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) at Chennai, to make a detailed investigation regarding the alleged violation of this Court’s earlier orders by the aforesaid respondents-manufacturers by using the ingredients which have been banned and by mislabelling their products contrary to the directions of this Court as stated in the instant application & submit a report to the Court within a period of six weeks from the date of receipt of copy of the order. 

The Bench comprising Justice Madan B Lokur and Justice Prafulla C Pant vide order dated February 10, 2020 directed the respondents including the manufacturers, distributors, wholesalers and retailers to mention the name and address of the manufacturer and the name and address of the person who is responsible on any fire cracker sold in box/carton to hold the person accountable in case of violation of any of the provisions of the law. 

Case Title: Arjun Gopal & Ors v. Union of India & Ors| Writ Petition(s)(Civil) No(s). 728/2015