India, Oct. 9 -- The Centre on Wednesday, negotiating a way out to balance the right of firecracker manufacturers and the cause of protecting the health of citizens, sought more time to arrive at a decision on the petitions filed by cracker manufacturers to lift the permanent ban on the use and sale of firecrackers in Delhi and national capital region (NCR). The Supreme Court will take up on Friday.

Ahead of Diwali, firecracker manufacturers received some respite when the top court on September 26 allowed those holding valid certification to produce green crackers to start manufacturing in their NCR units subject to the strict condition that none of their products shall be sold in Delhi-NCR.

On Wednesday, solicitor general Tushar Mehta,...