Chief Justice of India (CJI) Justice B.R. Gavai strongly opposed the restriction on firecrackers only in Delhi-NCR on Friday. He stated that the right to clean air is not just for the ‘special’ people of Delhi but for every citizen of the entire country. The court clarified its stance, saying that firecrackers should be banned across the country, and the rule should not be limited to just one city.
Why did the CJI say ‘Why only in Delhi?’
The CJI said, “We cannot make separate rules for Delhi because rich people live there. If the cities of NCR have the right to clean air, then why not the people of other cities?” He cited the example of Amritsar, Punjab, where pollution is even higher than Delhi during winters. The court believes that such policies should be for the entire country.
What about the poor laborers?
Firecracker traders told the court that this ban is snatching the livelihoods of thousands of families. The CJI agreed, saying that the ban affects the poor laborers the most, but the solution to the problem of pollution has to be found at the national level. The court has sought a response from the Air Quality Management Commission (CAQM) on this issue.