Calcutta HC orders jail term for bursting firecrackers during Diwali

The Calcutta High Court has issued an order that says that bursting firecrackers during Diwali or Kali Puja will straightaway lead to penal action. The court furthermore informed that anyone who will be found using, selling, buying, or bursting firecrackers will have to face serious penal consequences, including a six-month jail term.  

The Calcutta High Court has issued an order that says that bursting firecrackers during Diwali or Kali Puja will straightaway lead to penal action. The Calcutta High Court has banned the use of firecrackers keeping in view the recent extremely high levels of pollution. 

The High Court has furthermore informed that anyone who will be found using, selling, buying, or bursting firecrackers will have to face serious penal consequences, including a six-month jail term.

The High Court said, “The police should maintain a strict vigil to ensure there is no sale or purchase of firecrackers of any form in the state between now and the end of the month. The police should make every effort to confiscate firecrackers and any kind of like material which have the potential to pollute the air. Immediate measures must be taken by the police against those seeking to act in contravention of these directions.”

Arguing High Court's decision, lawyer Jayanta Narayan Chatterjee said, “Given the pandemic, I would urge the state to make guidelines giving prosecuting agencies more power to slap fines instead of penal cases for such offences.”

Since last Wednesday (November 4), the Bidhannagar police station has started an initiative to seize any firecrackers that enter commiserate area. An officer said, “We have set up checkpoints at multiple entry-exit spots and are checking vehicles.”