Our orders breached ‘left and right’, Deepavali was a festival of lights before gunpowder, Supreme Court says in firecrackers case

A Bench of Justices M.M. Sundresh and P.B. Varale said the right to religious freedom was also subject to public health and the protection of fundamental rights. Image used for representational purposes. | Photo Credit: AP

The Supreme Court on Thursday (October 29, 2026) said its orders, year after year, to curb and even ban firecrackers during Deepavali, had been violated “left and right”.

Editorial | The sound and the fiery: on green crackers, pollution control

A Bench of Justices M.M. Sundresh and P.B. Varale said the right to religious freedom was also subject to public health and the protection of fundamental rights.

Justice Sundresh said the incessant bursting of firecrackers takes a toll on the health of a large section of the population, including children, the aged, the sick, pregnant women, and specially-abled persons.

Justice Sundresh reminded that Deepavali is called the ‘festival of lights’.

“The problem might have started with gun powder,” the judge said.

The court was hearing a case on the increase in pollution as the festival drew near amidst the loud bangs of firecrackers.