The Supreme Court on Wednesday permitted the use of specified “next-generation joint green crackers” while declining to impose a blanket ban on firecrackers. A bench of Justices MM Sundresh and PB Varale said a balance had to be maintained between environmental concerns and public sentiment, while also making it clear that unrestricted bursting of firecrackers throughout the day would not be permitted. The court has given the Centre and expert agencies time until October 15 to complete their assessment of the impact of barium-containing green crackers on ambient air quality.

The court’s order followed submissions from the Centre based on consultations with the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research-National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (CSIR-NEERI), the Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation (PESO) and the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). The expert bodies supported allowing specified next-generation joint crackers, commonly referred to as “laris”, subject to safeguards. According to the Centre, these crackers do not contain barium and have recorded noise levels below 125 decibels in testing, compared with substantially higher noise levels from conventional firecrackers. Their manufacture and use will have to comply with prescribed conditions relating to shell numbers, shell size and the interval between bursts.

The court, however, kept the question of barium-containing green crackers open for further examination. The Centre told the bench that open-ground testing was required to determine the actual effect of barium content on ambient air quality under real-world conditions. The Supreme Court consequently granted the Centre and expert bodies time until October 15 to complete the assessment and submit their findings. The issue is significant because the court had previously restricted the use of barium salts in firecracker compositions following concerns over emissions and their potential impact on air quality.

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The proceedings stem from a long-running case concerning the environmental and health impact of firecrackers. The Supreme Court had in 2018 permitted reduced-emission and green crackers while making clear that barium salts could not be used in their manufacture. The court has subsequently revisited restrictions in light of expert assessments and the practical difficulties associated with enforcing a complete prohibition. In the current proceedings, the bench said courts should consider expert assessments in environmental matters while attempting to balance competing concerns.

The court also indicated that permitting specified green crackers would not mean allowing them to be used without restrictions. During the hearing, the bench said it would neither support a total ban nor permit fireworks for 24 hours, noting concerns for children, elderly people and those who are unwell. The court indicated that permitted firecrackers would be subject to specified time windows. The precise framework for their use, including the applicable timings and safeguards, is therefore expected to remain part of the court’s continuing consideration ahead of the festive season.

The latest order comes ahead of Dussehra and Diwali, when demand for firecrackers traditionally increases and manufacturers and retailers require clarity on which products can legally be produced, sold and used. The Supreme Court’s decision allows specified next-generation joint green crackers to be considered for use under prescribed safeguards, while the scientific assessment of barium-containing variants remains pending. The October 15 deadline will provide the Centre and expert agencies additional time to examine their impact on ambient air quality before the court considers the issue further.

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