Supreme Court rules out a total firecracker ban and 24-hour use, defers barium question to 15 October

30 September 2026

A Supreme Court bench headed by Justice MM Sundresh heard the long-pending 2015 firecracker petition on 30 September 2026. The Court said it would neither accept a total ban nor allow bursting through the whole day. It proposed fixed time windows for approved firecrackers during Diwali, balancing religious sentiments against the health of children, the elderly and the ill. The Court was open to permitting joint firecrackers (ladis) under conditions. At the request of the Additional Solicitor General, it allowed time until 15 October 2026 for the results of outdoor testing of barium in green firecrackers. Delhi-NCR rules were left to be heard with the overlapping MC Mehta case.