Supreme Court warns contempt action if NCR states fail to implement complete curb on crackers

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Tuesday told the governments of Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and Haryana to ensure a "scrupulous" ban on firecrackers in areas falling under the NCR region and warned any failure would attract contempt.

A bench of Justices Abhay S Oka and Ujjal Bhuyan asked the governments to issue a direction under the Environment Protection Act (EPA) imposing a complete ban on manufacture, sale and storage, including online delivery, on all types of firecrackers in the areas which fall under the NCR region.

The bench said that the orders of this court and the directions issued under Section 5 of the EPA must be strictly implemented through all the law enforcement machinery of the states.

The court was hearing a plea for directions in M C Mehta case on stopping environmental pollution, including ban on fire crackers and stubble burning.

During the course of the hearing, the court noted Delhi has issued directions under Section 5 of EP act so that penalty can be imposed. Other states must follow this.

"We direct Rajasthan, UP, and Haryana in areas in NCR to issue similar directions under Section 5 of EPA. Such directions to be issued within one month," the bench said.

The court reiterated that these (Rajasthan, UP, and Haryana) state governments should not only ensure scrupulous implementation of fire cracker ban but also create a mechanism to implement the ban on firecrackers.

"The machinery for grievance redressal mechanism shall also be created within one month. Breach of directions under Section 5 shall be taken to conclusion ensuring that penalty under section 5 shall be imposed. We also direct the state governments to periodically give wide publicity to the ban and the penalty imposed under section 5 of the EPA," the bench said.