SC refuses to ban Diwali crackers, directs Centre to run pollution awareness campaign

New Delhi: Going by the Centre's view against a blanket ban, the Supreme Court has refused to put a ban on crackers on Diwali.

However, the apex court has directed the Centre to publish pollution awareness adverts from Oct 31 to Nov 12.

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The SC's ruling came on PIL filed on behalf of three toddlers - Arjun Gopal, Aarav Bhandari and Zoya Rao Bhasin, all aged between 6 and 14 months - seeking immediate steps to curb Delhi's fatal air pollution including ban on fire crackers during Diwali.

The Centre in its submission had argued against a ban and citied a judgment by the Supreme Court in 2001 that allowed crackers from 6.00 am to 10.00 am. N

Appearing for the infants, who moved court through their legal guardians, senior lawyer Kapil Sibal had claimed that the Delhi government had Rs 387 crore to combat pollution, but at least 87 per cent of the funds lie unused.

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The PIL had also sought ban on burning of seasonal crops, strict action against those who dump dust, malba and other pollutants without following rules and immediate introduction of Bharat-V or better emission norms into operation uniformly across country.

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