India, Nov. 2 -- The Supreme Court on Monday permitted the use of green firecrackers in Delhi-NCR on November 7 and 8, allowing people to burst them between 6 am and 7 am and from 8 pm to 10 pm on both days.

A bench of Justices M M Sundresh and Prasanna B Varale said firecrackers must not be burst within 300 metres of hospitals, nursing homes, primary and district health centres, old-age homes and notified silence zones. These areas, along with educational institutions, will be designated as "No-Cracker Zones", with signboards and public announcements to inform residents.

The court declined to impose a complete ban but stressed that its directions would be meaningless without strict enforcement. It said authorities must ensure complianc...