Apex court modifies timing for bursting firecrackers in TN

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Tuesday modified its order which had fixed 8 pm to 10 pm as the slot for bursting firecrackers on Diwali and other festivals, saying that authorities in states are at liberty to change the timings, but the duration will not exceed two hours a day.

The apex court also said that its directions on "green crackers" were meant only for Delhi-NCR.

The court was hearing a plea by Tamil Nadu government which sought its nod for the bursting of crackers on Diwali morning under the religious practices in the state.

In its October 23 order, the court had ordered that bursting of firecrackers on Diwali and other festivals would be only from 8 pm to 10 pm.

A bench comprising Justices A K Sikri and Ashok Bhushan also made it clear that its October 23 direction allowing the manufacture and sale of only "green crackers", was meant for the Delhi-national capital region (NCR) and it was not applicable pan-India.