BREAKING: Supreme Court Permits Green Firecrackers In Delhi-NCR On November 7, 8

The Supreme Court has permitted bursting of green firecrackers in Delhi-NCR on November 7 and 8, 2026 while allowing people to burst them during designated morning and evening hours on the eve of Diwali and the festival day.

A bench of Justices MM Sundresh and Prasanna B Varale allowed the bursting of green crackers between 6 am and 7 am and again from 8 pm to 10 pm on both days.

Court has directed that no firecrackers shall be burst within a 300-metre radius of hospitals, nursing homes, primary and district health centres, old-age homes and notified silence zones. These areas, along with educational institutions, will be declared ‘No-Cracker Zones’ and appropriately marked and publicised, the Court has ordered.

Last week, while hearing the matter court had declined not to impose a complete ban on firecrackers.

Court had indicated that it would not impose a total ban on firecrackers during the upcoming Diwali celebrations, while making it clear that unrestricted bursting throughout the day would also not be permitted. The bench was hearing the long-running proceedings concerning firecracker use and air pollution in Delhi-NCR, said a balance would have to be found by prescribing specific hours during which firecrackers could be used.

In September the court had observed that a complete prohibition could affect festive sentiments, while allowing firecrackers to be burst throughout the day would have a significant impact on people and other living beings, particularly children, elderly persons and those who are unwell. It therefore indicated that the use of firecrackers should be confined to specified time windows. The bench also considered the use of specified next-generation joint green crackers and has given the Centre and expert bodies time to assess the impact of barium-containing variants on ambient air quality.

Last year, the Supreme Court had, on a test-case basis, permitted the sale and use of approved green crackers in the NCR for a limited period, subject to specified timings and other safeguards. The 2025 directions also prohibited crackers containing barium, joined series crackers or “laris”, and online sale of firecrackers.

It had also had permitted certified manufacturers of green crackers; those approved by the National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI) and the Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation (PESO), to produce such crackers in Delhi-NCR, on the condition that they would not be sold within the region.

In December 2024, the Supreme Court had ordered a complete ban on firecrackers in Delhi-NCR until further orders. In April 2025, a bench led by Justice Abhay S Oka refused to relax the ban on manufacture, storage and sale, citing alarming pollution levels and the right to health under Article 21 of the Constitution.

Bench: Justices Sundresh and Varale

Hearing Date: November 2, 2026