NEW DELHI: Tamil Nadu on Monday approached the Supreme Court asking it extend the permitted time for bursting of firecrackers on Diwali.
On October 23, the SC ruled that people could burst firecrackers during the festival between 8 pm and 10 pm.
TN’s petition argues people of the State will be deprived of their right to celebrate the festival by bursting crackers if the order is not modified as the festival, in north India, will be celebrated on the night of November 7 this year but in TN it will be celebrated on the morning of November 6.
“Diwali (in TN) is fixed whenever Chaturdashi Tithi prevails in morning from 4 to 6 am... This is contrary to other parts of the nation wherein Diwali is fixed and celebrated based on Amavasya at Pradosh (evening),” the petition reads, adding that there are a number of people from other states residing in TN so the apex court should permit them not only to firecrackers between 4.30 and 6.30am but also from 8 pm to 10 pm as already permitted by the court.
Last week, the court had restricted bursting of crackers and had said that, “We make it clear that we are concerned not only with Diwali, be it Gurpurab or Christmas, but our directions will also work across the board.”
The court was of the view there is need to take into account fundamental right to livelihood of firecracker manufacturers and right to health of over 1.3 billion people in the country.