The Supreme Court on Monday questioned the link between religion and the bursting of firecrackers while hearing a case concerning the rising air pollution levels in Delhi-NCR ahead of the festive season. The apex court said it would take a balanced view, keeping both religious sentiments and environmental concerns in mind. “What does religion have to do with firecrackers?” Justice Joymalya Bagchi asked during the hearing before a bench comprising Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant, Justice Bagchi and Justice V Mohana. Senior Advocate Aparajita Singh, the amicus curiae in the matter, said the argument that bursting firecrackers was a religious practice was repeatedly raised every year. “Gods would be aghast if they knew that children were suffering and getting sick in their name,” she said, highlighting the health impact of firecracker pollution. Responding to the arguments, CJI Surya Kant said the court would not hurt religious sentiments but would also remain mindful of environmental concerns. “We will not hurt religious sentiments. The best way forward is that people should themselves introspect. You can take measures to make them aware,” the CJI observed, emphasising the need to encourage awareness and responsible celebrations. Singh, however, pointed out that the same arguments were repeated every year, with little improvement in implementation. “Unfortunately, year after year, we see the same playbook getting repeated,” she said. The CJI stressed that the court needed to exercise caution while passing orders, suggesting that the focus should be on making people aware of the harmful effects of firecrackers and encouraging them to celebrate by lighting diyas. The court also suggested that awareness material be published requesting people to minimise the use of firecrackers during specified hours. It further proposed ensuring that only certain categories of crackers were available in the market and restricting the sale of harmful varieties. Singh, however, flagged the lack of enforcement, arguing that stakeholders had a “carte blanche” and that “no one cares about implementation”. Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati informed the bench that the use of firecrackers in Delhi had been permitted for two days during specified hours. Questioning the need for coercive restrictions when time remained before the festive celebrations, the CJI said people should be persuaded to celebrate as they wished while limiting the bursting of firecrackers to designated hours. Singh urged the court to refer the matter to the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM), stressing the adverse impact of pollution on children, the elderly and the infirm. She argued that restrictions limiting firecracker use to one or two hours might sound effective on paper but would not work without proper implementation. The bench posted the matter for October 15 and directed that suggestions be submitted to the CAQM.