High Court gives 3 hour relaxation on firecrackers ban during festivals

Punjab and Haryana High Court here on Wednesday gave a relaxation for three hours on firecrackers ban during festivals and functions. The court also issued guidelines to issue temporary licences and reduced the number by 20 percent of the total licences issued in 2016.

The case was heard in the court of Chief Justice and Justice Arun Palli on Wednesday. The court directed that for the festivals of Diwali and Gurupurab, The Union Territory, Chandigarh, the States of Punjab and Haryana shall be entitled to issue temporary licences upto 20% of the total number of temporary licences issued in 2016 and the grant of issuance of temporary licences shall be on the basis of draw of lots to be held by the concerned Deputy Commissioners and the procedure for the same shall start from Oct 22, 2018 with the issuance of Public notice and the application shall be invited till Oct 26, 2018.

Further the draw of the applications received shall be on Oct 29, 2018 It also directed that the timings for bursting of firecrackers for both the festivals would be 6:30 pm to 9:30 pm.

However, no temporary license will be issued for sale of firecrackers on Dussehra. Timing also has been limited from 5:00 to 08:00 during the day.

Punjab and Haryana High Court had taken a suo moto cognizance on the use of firecrackers during Diwali in 2017 for preventing air pollution in the region.