The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, Justice B.R. Gavai, on Friday, voiced his opposition to restricting the firecracker ban solely to Delhi-NCR. He argued that the right to clean air is a universal right, not limited to a specific region or demographic within India. The court’s clear stance is that a ban on firecrackers should be implemented across the entire nation, rather than confined to a single city or region.
CJI’s Argument: Why Only Delhi?
“We cannot formulate different regulations for Delhi simply because it has a wealthier population,” the CJI stated. “If the cities within NCR are entitled to clean air, then why should other cities be excluded?” He provided the example of Amritsar in Punjab, where pollution levels often surpass those of Delhi during the winter season. The court believes that policies of this nature must be applied nationally.
Impact on the Economically Vulnerable
Firecracker manufacturers presented to the court the potential loss of income for thousands of families due to the ban. The CJI acknowledged this concern, recognizing that the ban primarily impacts impoverished laborers. However, he emphasized that a comprehensive solution to the pollution crisis requires a national-level approach. The court has solicited a response from the Air Quality Management Commission (CAQM) concerning this matter.