SC allows States to fix duration to burst firecrackers on Diwali

The Supreme Court on October 30 modified an October 23 direction, which restricted the time for bursting crackers on Diwali and other religious festivals between 8 p.m. and 10 p.m.

• Instead, the top court said State governments can decide when people can burst crackers on festival day, provided the total time does not cross the two-hourmark. 
• This means the authorities can stagger the time-slots for bursting crackersand even make it an hour in the morning and another in the night.

Details:

• On October 23, the apex court had fixed a uniform slot for bursting crackers across the country.
• That is, between 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. during Diwali and other religious festivals. 
• For Christmas and New Year, the judicially-approved time for bursting crackers is between 11.55 p.m. and 12.30 a.m.
• Tuesday's (30.10.2018) modifications came after the court seemed to agree with Tamil Nadu's contention that restricting the time for bursting crackers to just two hours in the night would be a violation of religious rights of people in the southern parts of the country, where Diwali is celebrated in the morning.

One must know:

• Further, the court said its direction that only green crackers can be manufactured and sold is only applicable to Delhi and the National Capital Region areas. 
• On October 23, the court had held that only green or improved crackers would be used in religious festivals and other occasions, including even weddings.
• The ban on toxic crackers had come on the basis of a petition filed by two infants, a six-month-old and 14-month-old, through their fathers in 2015. 
• They had said the air pollution caused by various factors, especially firecrackers, has made Delhi a gas chamber. 
• They had pleaded for their right to life.
• However, firecracker manufacturers have raised doubts in court about the viability of manufacturing and selling green crackers for Diwali this year. 

Question:

Q. The Supreme Court on October 30 modified an October 23 direction, which restricted the time for bursting crackers on Diwali and other religious festivals between?
a. 6 p.m. and 8 p.m
b. 8 p.m. and 10 p.m
c. 10 p.m. and 12 a.m
d. 4 p.m. and 6 p.m