India, Oct. 16 -- After a gap of seven years, residents of Delhi-NCR will be able to celebrate Diwali with green crackers after the Supreme Court (SC) on Wednesday relaxed the ban on the sale and use of firecrackers in the region. Allowing Government-approved green crackers on a test basis, the SC, however, set strict conditions aimed at balancing traditions with environmental and health concerns.

The court has directed that the bursting of crackers on the two days October 18-October 20 is allowed from 6.00am to 7.00am and 8.00pm to 10.00pm. A Bench of Chief Justice of India BR Gavai and Justice K Vinod Chandran said it was doing so as a "temporary measure" following what was laid down by the SC in the case of Arjun Gopal vs Union of Ind...