New Delhi, Nov. 2 -- The Supreme Court has permitted the manufacture, sale and bursting of certified green firecrackers in Delhi-NCR for a limited period ahead of Diwali, while directing that the complete ban on firecrackers be restored from November 9, 2026.

A bench of Justices MM Sundresh and Prasanna B Varale allowed the sale of approved green crackers from November 4 to 6 and their bursting between 6 am and 7 am and 8 pm and 10 pm on November 7 and 8.

No firecrackers will be permitted within 300 metres of hospitals, healthcare centres, old-age homes, educational institutions and notified silence zones, which will be marked as 'No-Cracker Zones', ordered the top court.

The relaxation is subject to stringent safeguards to ensure that...