Bombay High Court clarifies that its ban on bursting firecrackers on public streets applies to all festivals through the year

State Focus Maharashtra Judgment Environment & Climate Law & Courts

Bombay High Court clarifies that its ban on bursting firecrackers on public streets applies to all festivals through the year

21 October 2026

A division bench of Justices Girish S. Kulkarni and Neela K. Gokhale passed the order on Thursday, October 15, 2026.
The matter is High Court on its own motion v. State of Maharashtra and Ors., a suo motu public interest litigation.
The bench clarified that its September 22 order banning the bursting of firecrackers on public streets, lanes and footpaths now applies year-round and across all festivals, including Navratri, Diwali and Christmas.
The Court recorded that it has not banned the manufacture or sale of firecrackers.
The State government, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation and the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board were directed to launch awareness campaigns in schools and public transit within one week.
They were also directed to issue public notices on health effects, promote low-emission green crackers and set up a complaint mechanism with the police.

Date of order: October 15, 2026 Earlier order extended: September 22 order Deadline for awareness campaigns: one week Bodies directed: State government, BMC and MPCB

Why it matters for exams: A suo motu environmental PIL that shows how a High Court can extend an order across festivals and fix duties on civic and pollution control bodies.

Kerala PSCUPSC

21 October 2026 Source: LiveLaw

In plain words

Suo motu Suo motu — A court taking up a matter on its own, without a petition being filed.

MPCB Maharashtra Pollution Control Board — The State board that enforces pollution control laws in Maharashtra.