The Supreme Court on Friday verbally observed that there was a need to explore a ban on firecrackers across India, not just in the National Capital Region, Live Law reported.

The bench of Chief Justice BR Gavai and Justice K Vinod Chandran made the comment while hearing pleas filed by firecracker traders challenging the year-long ban on the manufacture, sale and use of firecrackers in Delhi and adjoining areas that form the National Capital Region, Bar and Bench reported.

Amicus Curiae K Parameshwar told the court that a ban for the period between October and February would have been justified, a blanket ban on the manufacturing and sale of firecrackers would hurt the livelihood of several workers, Live Law reported.

In response, the bench verbally said that citizens across the country were equally entitled to clean air, and measures to improve air quality cannot be considered a privilege limited only to the national capital, according to Bar and Bench.

Air quality deteriorates sharply in the winter months in Delhi, which is often ranked the world’s most polluted capital. Stubble burning in Punjab and Haryana, along with falling temperatures, decreased wind speeds and emissions from industries and coal-fired plants contribute to the problem.

“Just because this is the capital city or the Supreme Court is situated in this area, it should not mean only they [people of Delhi] get pollution-free air,” the bench said.

“I was in Amritsar last winter and the pollution was worse than Delhi,” Bar and Bench quoted Gavai as saying. “Whatever policy has to be there, it has to be on a pan India basis. We can’t have special treatment for Delhi because they’re elite citizens of the country.”

“If firecrackers are to be banned then let them be banned throughout the country,” he added.

The matter will be heard next on September 22.

In April, the Supreme Court had imposed a year-long ban on the manufacture, storage, sale and use of firecrackers in the National Capital Region.

The bench of Justices Abhay Oka and Ujjal Bhuyan had noted at the time that limiting the ban to just three to four months in a year would be ineffective, as fireworks would continue to be sold in other months and stored for use during the ban period.

In December, the Delhi government told the court that it had imposed a complete ban on firecrackers throughout the year.

However, the court had held that the action would be effective only if the neighbouring states of Uttar Pradesh and Haryana, parts of which are included in the National Capital Region, imposed similar measures.