Sale allowed during Diwali from 18-21 October at licensed outlets, usage restricted to specific hours with strict monitoring

The Supreme Court on Wednesday allowed the offline sale of green crackers in Delhi-NCR, permitting a limited Diwali window from 18 to 21 October. The relaxation comes as a temporary measure under strict conditions.

Only crackers approved by the CSIR–National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI) and bearing QR codes will be permitted. Sales are restricted to licensed traders at locations designated by district authorities in consultation with the police. Special patrol teams will monitor these sites, verify QR codes, and collect random samples. Non-compliant crackers will be seized, and licences of offenders may be cancelled, along with possible fines.

Cracker use will be allowed only between 6 am–7 am and 8 pm–10 pm. Crackers containing barium or those sourced from outside the NCR remain banned. The Central and State Pollution Control Boards will track air quality from 14 October and submit reports to the Supreme Court.

Earlier, a three-judge bench comprising Chief Justice BR Gavai and Justices K Vinod Chandran and NV Anjaria had permitted certified manufacturers with NEERI and PESO approvals to produce green crackers, provided they did not sell them in Delhi-NCR until further orders.