DigitEye India Fact Checkers
A misleading post is being shared on social media claiming that the Supreme Court of India has banned the sale and use of firecrackers across India, not merely confined to the Delhi-NCR region.
The claim reads: “SC declared a ban on the sale and use of firecrackers, previously confined to Delhi-NCR is now applicable nation-wide. Must Listen to Mr.Vishnu Shankar Jain’s views on this.”
See the tweet below:
SC declared a ban on the sale and use of firecrackers, previously confined to Delhi-NCR is now applicable nation-wide. Must Listen to Mr.Vishnu Shankar Jain’s views on this. pic.twitter.com/2oqPuLP0p0
— Stranger (@amarDgreat) November 10, 2023
FACT CHECK
When we received the same for fact-checking, we first searched for such verdict by the Supreme Court on Google Search and found that the Supreme Court, which had banned firecrackers in the Delhi-NCR region earlier, gave clarifications periodically on it. The news reports clarifying on the 2018 judgement can be seen here and here.
It may be noted that the Supreme Court in a review petition clarified on its directions that the ban on use of barium and banned chemicals in firecrackers are applicable across the country, binding all states. The clarification pertaining to Rajasthan was made by Justices AS Bopanna and MM Sundaresh on 7 November 2023, whereby the apex court held that these orders are now applicable to all states in India, including Rajasthan.
As per the 2018 ruling, the Supreme Court guidelines on “green crackers” stipulated that the environmental impact of fireworks should not affect air quality and made it mandatory for firecracker factories to make eco-friendly or “green” fireworks that emitted fewer pollutants and reduce noise considerably.
[ALSO READ: Did PM congratulate Supreme Court bench after Ayodhya verdict? Fact Check]In its 2021 ruling, the Supreme Court maintained that to prevent the use of prohibited chemicals in Diwali fireworks such as barium slats, firecrackers containing these chemicals were banned, and “green crackers” will be allowed.
Hence, the ban is related to the use of harmful chemicals such as barium in manufacturing firecrackers nationwide and not a blanket ban on all firecrackers country-wide as claimed in the post. In fact, green firecrackers are allowed as long as they are produced as per the guidelines set by the top court. Hence, the claim is misleading.
Claim: SC declared a ban on the sale and use of firecrackers, previously confined to Delhi-NCR is now applicable nation-wide.
Conclusion: The Supreme Court ban on firecrackers pertains to the use of barium only across India and not a blanket-ban on all firecrackers.
Rating: Misleading — 
