New Delhi, Oct. 12 -- The Supreme Court on Monday said there was a need to balance religious sentiments with public health concerns while considering restrictions on firecrackers in Delhi-NCR.
The top court said that people should voluntarily adopt less polluting ways of celebrating festivals rather than relying on restrictive judicial orders.
A bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana said it was not inclined to hurt religious sentiments but stressed the importance of making citizens aware of the harmful effects of firecrackers and encouraging safer practices.
"We will not hurt religious sentiments but at the same time, people should themselves come forward and opt for it. The whole exercise should involve a balancing approach," the CJI said.
The CJI said that awareness among citizens and civil society would be the most effective way forward.
The bench was hearing suo motu proceedings concerning air pollution in the National Capital Region (NCR) covering issues such as firecrackers, stubble burning and solid waste management.
During the hearing, Justice Bagchi questioned the religious basis for bursting firecrackers.
"What is religious about bursting crackers?" he asked.
Senior advocate Aparajita Singh, who is assisting the bench as the amicus curiae, referred to health risks associated with air pollution, particularly for children, elderly people and those suffering from health vulnerabilities.
She also flagged persistent enforcement failures, saying that restrictions on the duration of firecracker use were unlikely to achieve their intended purpose without effective implementation.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.