The Supreme Court on Wednesday refused to interfere with the Delhi government’s order putting a comprehensive ban on manufacturing, storage, sale and bursting of firecrackers in the city, saying people’s health is important. BJP Lok Sabha member Manoj Tiwari told a bench of justices AS Bopanna and MM Sundresh that a complete ban was imposed on firecrackers despite the court allowing bursting of green firecrackers. “No, we are not going to interfere. Where the government has banned firecrackers, it means complete ban. People’s health is important. If you want to burst firecrackers, go to states where there is no ban,” the bench told advocate Shashank Shekhar Jha, appearing for Tiwari. The counsel said his client being an MP was responsible towards his constituency and the court has itself allowed bursting of green firecrackers. “People burst firecrackers during wedding and victory processions after elections, then why can’t they be allowed to burst green firecrackers during festivals,” Jha said.

He said that even the apex court and a Calcutta High Court verdict of last year said there will not be a complete ban on bursting of firecrackers.

“You should make the people understand that they should not burst firecrackers. Even you should not burst firecrackers during victory processions after elections. There are other ways of celebrating the victory,” the bench told Tiwari, who is an MP from North East Delhi