On 9th October the Supreme Court in a verdict announced that the sale of crackers would be banned in the Delhi NCR region till 1st November.
This ban during the Diwali period resulted in an uproar within the Hindu community which saw the judgement as infringing into their religious practices. On the other hand various environmental groups and the so called liberals welcomed the verdict, which they claimed would control the air pollution around Delhi.
Even though the air quality does tend to deteriorates in this time-frame, but as detailed in this report, various other factors apart form crackers are responsible for the same. On top of it, we also reported that pollution was not the main reason why Supreme Court had banned the sale.
As a result of the ban, the Delhi police suspended about 400 temporary and permanent licenses given to traders and shopkeepers. Thus these sellers were hit the hardest, many of whom are now unsure as to what to do with the stock of crackers which has already been delivered to them.
Now there might be a glimmer of hope for Delhi and its Diwali after, “Indic Collective” a civil liberties group has now filed a petition in the Supreme Court against this ban.
We had recently reported about Indic collective and how they are a Chennai-based registered trust of activists, intellectuals and civil liberty advocates. Their main aim is to usher in an Indian renaissance with the help of legal actions and initiatives.
Soon after the cracker ban was imposed, they had assured that they were in process of filing a review petition:
Our review petition work over the crackers ban issue is in progress. We will update as and when it is filed.
— Indic Collective (@indiccollective) October 10, 2017
Now they have come true on their statement and have filed an application before the Supreme Court for modification of the order:
Today the @indiccollective filed its applications before the SC for impleadment and modification of the order of ban on firecrackers in NCR
— Indic Collective (@indiccollective) October 12, 2017
The matter was mentioned before Justice Ranjan Gogoi and Justice Naveen Sinha by arguing counsel Sai Deepak J and advocate on record Suvidutt Sundaram. The hearing in the Supreme Court is scheduled on Friday. The fast approaching date Diwali and the infringement of fundamental rights under Article 25 were submitted as grounds for urgency.
Various netizens welcomed the initiative of Indic Collective and gave them their wishes:
Smart RW lawyers move Supreme Court against cracker ban. Wishing @indiccollective best of luck. https://t.co/ffLv1q6bf1
— Ashu? (@muglikar_) October 13, 2017
Expecting some fireworks in court today from @jsaideepak – all the best!! https://t.co/6fK8z2drLI
— Amit Thadhani (@amitsurg) October 13, 2017
All the Best … this is one initiative i surely will support, and that also regularly https://t.co/2ZobH7noXJ
— Jemin PANCHAL (@jemin_p) October 13, 2017
