C'garh(Eds: Correcting a typo in intro)Chandigarh, Oct 13 (PTI) Residents of Punjab, Haryana andChandigarh can burn crackers only for three hours -- from 6:30pm to 9:30 pm -- on Diwali, the high court ordered here, daysafter the Supreme Court banned the sale of fireworks inneighbouring Delhi and National Capital region (NCR).
Concerned over the pollution from crackers, the Punjaband Haryana High Court today also issued a number ofinstructions to authorities on issuing of temporary licencesto traders in the states and the Union Territory.
However, the division bench of justices A K Mittal andAmit Rawal said detailed guidelines for the future will belaid down subsequently.
"The court has made it clear that the set of instructionsare applicable only for this year's Diwali in Punjab, Haryanaand Chandigarh. The court has ordered that firecrackers can beonly burnt between 6.30 pm to 9.30 pm.
"Deputy commissioners, police commissioners and seniorsuperintendents of police have been directed to ensure strictand meticulous compliance (of the order)," senior advocateAnupam Gupta said.
The high court also directed the police to ensureadequate PCR vans are deployed for compliance of thedirections.
The court had yesterday issued notices to the two statesand the UT asking them to furnish details of licences issuedfor sale of crackers.
The development comes days after the Supreme Court bannedthe sale of firecrackers in Delhi-NCR till November 1.
The high court bench had sought the response of theauthorities while taking note of the issue of pollution causedby firecrackers and had appointed Gupta as amicus curiae(court's friend) to assist it in the matter.
Gupta also said that as per the court orders, sale andmarketing of firecrackers will take place only at placesdesignated by deputy commissioners and not any other place.
The division bench restricted the authorities fromissuing permanent licenses without the court's permission andalso limited the number of temporary licences to be issued totraders.
"The court has made it clear that no permanent licencefor firecrackers under the Explosives Act will be issuedhenceforth without the permission of the high court," Guptasaid.
"So far as giving temporary licenses for Diwali this yearare concerned, the total no of such licences, which can beissued for the festival (for a period of 15-30 days), shallnot exceed 20 per cent of the number issued last year," hesaid.
Temporary licences will be issued only by deputycommissioners and this power will not be delegated to anybodyelse, Gupta said while giving details of the court'sdirectives.
"The temporary licences will be issued through a draw andvideo-graphed. The draw of lots will take place on October 16at 5 pm (at designated places in the two states andChandigarh)," he said.
The advocate said that applications will be entertainedup to 2 pm tomorrow and on Sunday and Monday.
"If any temporary license has already been issued forthis Diwali, it shall be inoperative," Gupta said.
The next hearing is slated for October 26. PTI SUN VSDANB.
This is unedited, unformatted feed from the Press Trust of India wire.