The Punjab and Haryana High Court on Friday ruled that firecrackers can be burst in the states only between 6.30 pm and 9.30 pm on Diwali. It directed authorities to ensure that adequate vans of the Pollution Control Room are deployed to prevent people from flouting the order, The Indian Express reported.
The bench also restricted authorities from issuing permanent licences to firecracker traders without the court’s permission. It limited the number of temporary licences that can be issued and said a draw should be conducted to grant permits to sell firecrackers.
The order comes a day after High Court justices AK Mittal and Amit Rawal took suo motu notice of the pollution caused by bursting firecrackers. On Thursday, they issued notices to the two state governments and the Union Territory of Chandigarh, seeking details of the temporary licences issued to sell crackers, the Hindustan Times reported.
The restriction on Friday came soon after the Supreme Court refused to modify its order banning the sale of firecrackers in Delhi and the National Capital Region till November 1.
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