Delhi HC junks plea challenging blanket ban on firecrackers
Darpan News Desk IANS, 20 Oct, 2022 11:30 AM
New Delhi, Oct 20 (IANS) The Delhi High Court on Thursday refused to entertain a petition challenging the Arvind Kejriwal-led government's blanket ban on firecrackers in the national capital.
Justice Yashwant Varma said the issue is already pending before the Supreme Court and observed that it is not appropriate for the High Court to take the matter.
Two petitioners, engaged in storing and selling of green crackers, approached the High Court challenging the Delhi Pollution Control Committee's (DPCC) order to completely ban the manufacture, storage, sale, and bursting of all kinds of firecrackers till next year in the capital city.
The plea stated that the air quality in New Delhi has been moderate or better at least since August 15 this year.
"In this view, there is no occasion to impose a ban on the use of even green crackers. Almost all Covid-19 related restrictions that were in force in December 2020 have now been relaxed. There is thus no reason that a restriction on the sale and use of firecrackers remain, especially at a time when the AQI levels in Delhi are at moderate or better levels," it said.
The petitioners also argued that the ban is against the National Green Tribunal (NGT) and Supreme Court orders.
"It is clear from the order of the learned NGT dated December 1, 2020, and that of the Supreme Court dated July 23, 2021, that a complete ban on the use of crackers is impermissible. Restrictions can be made only in cases where the air quality is poor. The same is not the case in Delhi," the plea contended.
On Sunday, the girl went to the balcony of her house situated on the third floor and jumped from there. She was rushed to a hospital where she was declared dead on arrival, police said.
Last year, a 17-year-old girl had accused Deepak, alias Pope, of molesting her. A case was registered and the minor girl's statement was recorded in front of a magistrate.
After taking a few photographs on the bridge, the woman along with her son and daughter climbed down from the bridge, positioned themselves on a rock beside the river, and starting taking selfies, a police officer said.
The six-year-old was rushed to the Trauma Centre from school. Dr Sandeep Tewari, who was treating the boy, said the wounds "seem to have been inflicted with a knife-like sharp object".
As many as 16 people, including a noted builder, were arrested by the Kanpur Police in connection with the seizure of over Rs 96 crore in demonetised currency notes from the builder's ancestral house in Swaroop Nagar here.
