SC’s cracker deadline goes up in smoke, over 175 FIRs filed

In a major crackdown, the Delhi police have so far registered over 175 FIRs for violation of the Supreme Court’s deadline related to bursting of green firecrackers on Diwali.

These FIRs across 15 police districts have been lodged for flouting firecracker bursting timings on October 20 and 21.

The Delhi Police’s Crime and Criminal Tracking Network & Systems (CCTNS) data reveals all FIRs have been lodged under Sections 223(a) and (b) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, and the Explosives Act 1884. Sections 223 (a) and (b) of the BNS relate to disobedience of an order duly promulgated by a public servant — adherence to the SC stipulated deadlines to burst crackers being the order in the instant case.

Under the section, violations that cause obstruction, annoyance or injury can invite simple imprisonment for a term that may extend to six months or fine which may extend to Rs 2,500 or both.

Where such disobedience causes or tends to cause danger to human life, health or safety, or causes or tends to cause a riot or affray, it is punishable with imprisonment for a term that may extend to one year or with fine up to Rs 5,000 or both.

The Tribune analysis of the police data show that the majority of cases have been registered in East, South and Dwarka, where residents continued to burst crackers beyond the permitted window.

The Delhi Police have also seized several boxes of banned firecrackers during their night patrols. Allowing the use of green firecrackers as a test case the apex court had on October 15 said such bursting would be confined to 6 am to 7 am and 8 pm to 10 pm one day before the pious day and on Diwali.

A Bench led by Chief Justice of India BR Gavai had asked the police and the administration concerned to ensure the timeframes were adhered to.

The Delhi administration and police will be required to submit an enforcement compliance report to the SC, which had said on October 15 that it would hear the matter after three weeks.

As per official data, the highest number of FIRs have been lodged in the East district (25) followed by Dwarka (21), South (20) and Outer (18). East district houses colonies like Mayur Vihar, Preet Vihar and Vivek Vihar while Punjabi Bagh and Model Town are well known localities of Outer district.

Lutyens zone located in New Delhi district also posted its share of violations with 11 FIRs registered — three each at the Chanakyapuri and Mandir Marg police stations, two at the Barakhamba road police station among others.

Five districts of Delhi logged single digit FIRs. The least violation was seen in Southeast district where a single FIR has been lodged. This district is home to neighbourhoods like Greater Kailash, Defence Colony, New Friends Colony, Sarita Vihar, East of Kailash, Chittaranjan Park and Lajpat Nagar.

Three FIRs each have been registered in Central and Rohini district, six each in West, Southwest districts and seven at Outernorth district.

According to the Delhi Police order, sale of green crackers was allowed for three days (October 18, 19 and 20) and bursting of crackers for two days (October 19 and 20) between 6 am and 7 am and 8 pm and 10 pm.

To implement the order and ensure safety and security, each police district was ordered to deploy patrolling teams comprising representatives from the Delhi Police, DPCC and the district administration to ensure compliance.

“We had deployed additional teams and drones to monitor violations in sensitive zones,” said a senior Delhi Police officer.

According to the SC directions, only National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI)-approved green firecrackers with QR codes were allowed for sale and use. Firecrackers containing barium or any non-NEERI-certified components and series were strictly prohibited.

This year’s Diwali celebrations have once again added to Delhi’s pollution woes, with the city’s Air Quality Index (AQI) entering the “very poor” category just hours after the festivities ended.

Dist| FIRs

East 25

Dwarka 21

South 20

Outer 18

Shahdara 16

Northeast 14

Northwest 13

New Delhi 11

North 11

Outernorth 7

Southwest 6

West 6

Rohini 3

Central 3

Southeast 1

(Source: Delhi Police)