Haryana Govt bans firecrackers in 14 districts in NCR under section 144
Op IndiaThe Haryana Disaster Management Authority has placed a blanket ban on all types of firecrackers under Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure across the State’s 14 districts that fall within the NCR during the upcoming Diwali celebrations on November 4. The office of the Deputy Commissioner of Gurugram posted the official communique issued by the District Magistrate Gurugram on October 31 on its official Twitter handle which specified that there would be a total ban on the sale of or use of all kinds of firecrackers in District Gurugram during the festival season of Diwali, Gurupurab and Kartik Purnima, Christmas eve, New Year eve. On October 29, the Calcutta High Court had ordered a complete ban on all kinds of firecrackers throughout the state of West Bengal during the upcoming festivals including Diwali, Kali Puja, Guru Nanak Jayanti, Christmas and New Year’s celebrations. Calling the High Court order ‘extreme’, the apex court said, “we are convinced that Calcutta High Court should have called upon parties to give an explanation before passing such an extreme order.” The apex court said that there cannot be a complete ban on firecrackers, which it had already said on 29 October in a different case, and asked the authorities to strengthen mechanisms to supervise and implement its orders.