New Delhi, November 2: The Supreme Court has observed that a complete ban on firecrackers is driving illegal sales, while discouraging people from purchasing authorised green crackers that have been tested and approved by recognised facilities.

The apex court made the observation while allowing the bursting of green firecrackers in the Delhi-National Capital Region (NCR) during two designated time slots — from 6 am to 7 am and 8 pm to 10 pm — on November 7 and 8.

The court also noted that the failure to implement and repeated violations of its earlier directions on firecrackers had emerged as a "recurring problem".

"In view of the aforesaid discussion, this court is inclined to regulate the manufacture, storage, sale and bursting of green firecrackers, instead of maintaining the complete ban on the same, for a temporary period," a bench comprising Justices M M Sundresh and Prasanna B Varale observed in its October 29 order.

The court's decision marks a shift from a blanket prohibition towards regulated use of green firecrackers for a limited period. The move is aimed at curbing the illegal sale of unauthorised firecrackers while ensuring that only approved green crackers are permitted for use.