NGT junks plea to declare Diwali a national event

The National Green Tribunal has dismissed a plea seeking directions to consider Diwali a national event and announce tax concession for the manufacture and sale of crackers. A Bench headed by Justice U D Salvi declined the plea by a religious group and made it clear that it was not concerned with any other activity, except the environment. “We do not find any material borne of universal human experience except the word ‘faithful’ in the present application for coming to the conclusion that it raises a substantial question of law arising out of the implementation of the Acts specified under the Schedule 1 of the NGT Act, 2010. We, therefore, dismiss this application,” the Bench said.