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A Division Bench comprising Justices Sabyasachi Bhattacharya and Aniruddha Roy has ordered a complete ban on the usage and sale of all kinds of firecrackers including green crackers throughout the state of West Bengal during the upcoming Diwali/ Kali Puja festivities.

A group of doctors, environment experts and medical associations in Kolkata submitted a letter to chief minister Mamata Banerjee requesting a blanket ban on firecrackers. Earlier, the West Bengal Pollution Control Board had allowed people to use green firecrackers for two hours - 8-10 pm on Diwali, two hours on Chhat Puja between 6-8 am and 35 mins on New Year's Eve.

According to Hindustan Times, Manas Gumta, General Secretary of the Association of Health Service Doctors said, “much damage has been caused by the rampant violations of Covid-19 safety protocols during the Durga Puja. Cases have started rising once again in the city and across the state. We should at least show some restraint during Kali Puja by not bursting crackers and fireworks this time. The smoke and pollution would cause more harm to patients who are suffering from Covid-19 or are recovering from the disease.”

On the issue of green crackers the Calcutta High Court noted that:

"Keeping in mind the practical realities, we find that there is no mechanism in place to ascertain whether the crackers being sold/burst are only green crackers in compliance with the norms set in place by the relevant certifying body."

Thus the High Court put a blanket ban on bursting of all fire-crackers during Diwali/Kali Puja Chhath Puja, Guru Nanak Jayanti, Christmas and New Year's celebrations.

Cause Title: Roshni Ali vs State of West Bengal