The Supreme Court declined a complete ban on firecrackers but stressed public awareness campaigns involving figures like Virat Kohli to encourage eco-friendly Diwali celebrations.
SC Urges Awareness Campaigns for Crackers-Free Diwali
The Supreme Court on Thursday refrained from imposing a complete ban on firecrackers during Diwali but emphasized the need for intensified public awareness campaigns to promote celebration without crackers. In the ongoing matter of Arjun Gopal and Others v. Union of India and Others, the bench warned that failure to enforce existing environmental restrictions could compel it to impose stricter measures.
The Court recommended dissemination of messages through print and television media, urging the Ministry of Environment and Pollution Control Boards to deploy prominent public figures, including cricketer Virat Kohli, to amplify outreach. The suggestion reflects the Court’s strategy of leveraging celebrity influence to drive behavioural change in environmental matters.
While recognizing cultural sentiments, the Court reiterated that the right to life under Article 21 includes the right to clean air. The order reinforces its earlier directives on timing, type, and zoning of firecracker use. For environmental law practitioners, this highlights the Court’s preference for non-coercive, awareness-based compliance mechanisms before resorting to outright prohibitions.
Citations
- Arjun Gopal and Others v. Union of India and Others
