Supreme Court Weighs Firecracker Makers' Livelihood Against Public Health

On October 9th, 2025, the Supreme Court of India was set to consider the government's proposal for a mechanism to balance the interests of firecracker manufacturers and the public's right to clean air. The court had previously allowed the production of green crackers in the National Capital Region (NCR), but concerns remain over the enforcement and monitoring of these environmentally-friendly products.

Ahead of the Diwali festival, the firecracker industry had received some respite in September 2025 when the top court permitted the manufacture of green crackers in NCR units. However, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) had highlighted several gaps in the implementation process, including instances where registered green cracker manufacturers sold their QR codes to unregistered producers.

The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) now seeks more time to arrive at a decision, acknowledging the need to find a balance between the right to clean air and the right to livelihood of cracker workers. The Supreme Court has agreed to take up the matter on October 11th, 2025, as the manufacturers argue for the urgency of the issue with the Diwali festival approaching.

The court had previously stated that a complete ban on firecrackers cannot be the solution unless there is a robust enforcement mechanism in place. The CAQM has proposed a rigorous, transparent, and year-round monitoring system to oversee the manufacturing, distribution, and sale of firecrackers, involving surprise inspections and sample collection.