New Delhi, Oct. 11 -- The Supreme Court on Friday observed that it may permit the sale and bursting of firecrackers in Delhi and the national capital region (NCR) this Diwali "on a trial basis for five days", before deciding whether the existing ban on fireworks throughout the year should be relaxed. A bench comprising Chief Justice of India Bhushan R Gavai and Justice K Vinod Chandran reserved its order on a batch of applications seeking to lift the ban, after the Union government urged the Court to allow fireworks in the capital region under a tightly regulated framework. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Centre, submitted a detailed note outlining measures aimed at balancing the citizens' right to celebrate festivals with the need to protect public health and the environment. Under the government's proposal, only green crackers approved by the National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI) would be manufactured and sold, while traditional "joined" crackers or laris would continue to remain banned. Sales would be restricted to licensed traders, and online platforms such as Flipkart and Amazon would be barred from facilitating firecracker sales in Delhi-NCR. Time restrictions for bursting firecrackers were also proposed. Fireworks on Diwali and other major festivals would be allowed only from 8pm to 10 pm, while on Christmas and New Year's Eve, the permitted window would be from 11.55pm to 12.30am. For Gurpurab, fireworks could be used for one hour in the morning and one hour in the evening. Firecrackers could also be used for weddings or other personal occasions. SG Mehta, however, requested the bench to relax the timings during Diwali, arguing that children should not be restricted to only two hours of celebration. During the hearing, the bench observed, "For the time being, we will allow it during the five days of Diwali on a trial basis.However, we will confine it to certain time limits." Senior advocate K Parameshwar, representing the firecracker manufacturers, suggested that authorities earmark specific points of sale for wholesalers and retailers so that all compliances could be verified efficiently. In response, the SG said: "I would make an additional request that the timings should be relaxed for Diwali and other festivals. It is a matter of a few days on Diwali. Let children celebrate Diwali with fervour." Hearing a PIL filed by environmentalist MC Mehta for reducing pollution in Delhi-NCR, the bench noted the legal sensitivity of the matter, observing that prior rulings, including the 2018 Arjun Gopal case, could not be ignored when the court ruled against an absolute ban on firecrackers and allowed community fireworks and green crackers, with certain stipulations. "When the subject matter is the same, they should be heard together," said the bench, underlining that any modification by a current bench over a coordinate bench's earlier judgment raised issues of judicial propriety. The court also queried whether data showed a substantial improvement in Delhi's air quality index (AQI) between 2018 and 2024 to justify a fresh order on April 3 imposing a blanket ban. That order, passed in view of Delhi's "horrible" air quality, prohibited not only the bursting but also the manufacture, sale, and storage of crackers across Delhi and adjoining NCR districts in Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and Rajasthan. On the enforcement side, the Centre's note proposed a comprehensive monitoring framework. Manufacturers would be required to submit product-specific QR codes to PESO and State Pollution Control Boards, maintain detailed records of production and sales, and conduct regular testing to ensure emissions remained within NEERI-approved thresholds. PESO and state authorities would conduct surprise inspections at manufacturing, storage, and retail sites, with penalties, including license suspension and closure, imposed for violations. Public awareness campaigns were also suggested to educate citizens on approved crackers, health hazards from firecracker emissions, and mechanisms to report violations. Platforms like the Sameer App and Green Delhi App would allow timely grievance redressal. According to the Centre's note, NEERI and PESO would maintain updated lists of approved crackers and manufacturers, while CSIR-NEERI would continue research to develop even lower-emission firecrackers. Authorities would also conduct source apportionment studies to gauge the contribution of fireworks to Delhi's air pollution, with continuous monitoring by the CPCB and local pollution boards. Responding to the suggestions, senior advocate Uttara Babbar assisting the court as amicus curiae said that the Centre's suggestions to enforce the law will be rendered mere "lip service" as PESO has no testing facilities in Delhi. Further, she requested the court to direct the expert body NEERI to continue its research as it is only due to the push by the court that green cracker formulations with significantly less emission have been possible. The Centre's submission came amid ongoing litigation by firecracker manufacturers challenging the April 3 Supreme Court order banning sale, storage, and use of firecrackers in Delhi-NCR. Petitioners, including the Federation of Fireworks Traders, Association of Fireworks (Haryana), and Indic Collective Trust, argued that the ban was discriminatory and scientifically unfounded, pointing out that stubble burning and vehicular pollution contribute more significantly to Delhi's winter smog. Last month, the court had allowed manufacturers holding valid NEERI and PESO certifications to resume production of green crackers but prohibited their sale in the NCR....