NEW DELHI -- The Supreme Court is likely to pronounce its verdict on Tuesday on a plea seeking a ban on manufacture and sale of firecrackers across the country to curb air pollution.
A bench of Justices AK Sikri and Ashok Bhushan, which had reserved its verdict on 28 August, will pronounce the judgement.
The apex court had earlier said there was a need to take into account all aspects, including the fundamental right of livelihood of firecracker manufacturers and the right to health of over 1.3 billion people in the country, while considering the plea.
The top court had said the Article 21 (right to life) of Constitution applied to both segments of people and it needed to maintain a balance while considering a countrywide ban on firecrackers.
It had asked the centre to suggest measures to be taken for curbing pollution and what would be the effect of firecrackers on the public at large.
The apex court had on 8 August said a spike in PM 2.5 levels in the air was a severe problem as the particulate matter remains in people's lungs, leading to serious health implications.
Firecracker makers had earlier told the court that the use of firecrackers should not be completely banned and it should instead be strictly regulated.
They contended that the crackers are not the reason for increase in air pollution and there are other factors, like wind and temperature, which contribute to it.
They also said that firecracker makers could be deprived of their right to do business based on statements which were not supported by facts.
On 9 October last year, the top court had temporarily banned the sale of firecrackers ahead of Diwali.
Later, the court refused to relax its order while dismissing a plea by traders who had sought permission to sell crackers for at least a day or two before Diwali on 19 October 2017.
The apex court said its ban order during Diwali that year was an experiment to examine its effect on the pollution levels in the region.