The Supreme Court’s ban sale of fire crackers in Delhi-NCR has Twitter divided. While many welcomed the apex court’s order hailing it as a much needed measure to curb deteriorating air quality in the capital, others criticised the decision citing a number of reasons. Of them, three were most discussed.
1) Communal: Many social media users tried to add communal colour to the SC order questioning as why such stringent rules are made for the festivals of Hindus. Noted author Chetan Bhagat expressed his disapproval over apex Court’s order and questioned why only Hindu Festivals are being targetted. Chetan said that banning crackers in Diwali is like banning Christmas trees on Christmas and goats on Bakr-Eid. Here are some of the arguments doing rounds on social media.
Can I just ask on cracker ban. Why only guts to do this for Hindu festivals? Banning goat sacrifice and Muharram bloodshed soon too?
— Chetan Bhagat (@chetan_bhagat) October 9, 2017
Aurangzeb banned fireworks on Diwali in 1667
350 years later, Supreme Court bans fireworks in Delhi-NCR on Diwali in 2017. pic.twitter.com/WCKBa5mtIM
— Abhinav Prakash (@Abhina_Prakash) October 9, 2017
NO firecrackers in Delhi-NCR on #Diwali as Supreme Court bans sale until November 1
But does SC have guts to ban slaughter on Bakra Eid? NO
— Jagrati Shukla (@JagratiShukla29) October 9, 2017
Supreme Court bans firecrackers in Delhi-NCR.. The Judge delivers this judgement while eating delicious Biryani & smoking a Cigar.
— Paresh Rawal Fan (@Babu_Bhaiyaa) October 9, 2017
2) Judicial Overreach: Other social media users also described the order as a case of judicial over-reach. Senior Journalist Shekhar Gupta said the SC ban is troubling as it’ll draw copycat demands on other faiths’ festivals.
I feel the ban on crackers must be a voluntary people led movement; not mandated by court. Slippery slope for over- reach in other areas
— barkha dutt (@BDUTT) October 9, 2017
SC ban on Diwali crackers is troubling. It’ll draw copycat demands on other faiths’ festivals. Art 142 is for exceptional use, not as a norm
— Shekhar Gupta (@ShekharGupta) October 9, 2017
Delhi-NCR Banning fire crackers is nothing but Judicial over reach. Judge AK Sikri has let down the people . pic.twitter.com/Yq8fBhHHd4
— Yogesh (@yogashar99) October 9, 2017
Such radical orders will always prove to be counterproductive. And if it has to be people-led, it will take time. Courts should know that!
— Ananth Rupanagudi (@rananth) October 9, 2017
There is something called Judicial anarchy… Reopening #Gandhi murder case, rejecting judicial reforms & now this #crackerban
— Vivekanand Ojha (@v_ojha) October 9, 2017
3) Impact on Industry: A section of users vented their ire over the SC ruling saying it will cripple Indian firecracker industry and would render many labourers and traders jobless
This diwali SC have personally put out the lamps of these poor shopkeepers before they got the chance to ignite it. #HappyDiwali2017
— Shubham Kumar (@Shubham01369120) October 9, 2017
Indian firecracker industry is 2nd largest Globally & for DOMESTIC Consumption ONLY
TamilNadu Contributes to 70% of 3000cr
Delhi-NCR SC
— Raman (@being_delhite) October 9, 2017
The loss to Rs. 1000 crore firecracker industry this Diwali will be negligible, hence the ban. Geniuses at work in the courts, for Delhi-NCR
— SKSudan (@sumansudan) October 9, 2017
4) And then there were some who slammed the decision for plainly bizarre reasons
Shouldn’t we ban cars and factories as these are major contributors to air, water and noise pollution in Delhi &NCR all throughout the yr..
— Sunny Gupta (@sunnytheputtar) October 9, 2017
What about mosquitos, spreading dengu, chikangunia etc. Crackers can be healpfull too in other manner.
— Devesh Sharma (@Devchotia) October 9, 2017
They sit in A.C. CHAMBER nd travel in car with smoking cigar nd pass a verdict to ban on firecracker nd irony is for air pollution
— ashish srivastava (@ashishsnmc) October 9, 2017
Perhaps it is no coincidence that the Supreme Court and Scheduled Caste both have SC as abbreviation. Buddhi ka parichay. #FirecrackerBan
— Nityananda Puri (@Swami_843) October 9, 2017
The top court today restored the order suspending all licences which “permit the sale of fireworks, wholesale and retail within the territory of NCR”. The SC’s decision came amid growing concerns over the impact of pollution created by firecrackers. Each year, the festival leaves the air in Delhi thick with smoke and pollution.
