New Delhi, October 30: The Supreme Court on Tuesday refused to extend the two-hour limit imposed on the bursting of firecrackers during Diwali 2018. While hearing the plea filed by the Tamil Nadu government, the Court said the state government can decide the time slot but duration cannot exceed the two hours limit. The Court's order comes a day after the Tamil Nadu urged the top Court to allow the 4.30 AM to 6.30 AM slot for the bursting of firecrackers.

On Monday, the Tamil Nadu government had moved the Supreme Court seeking an order to permit the bursting of firecrackers from 4.30 AM to 6.30 AM as Diwali is celebrated in the morning in the state. In its ruling, the Court on October 23 had said that people could burst firecrackers during Diwali between 8 PM and 10 PM.

The Tamil Nadu government argued in the petition that the people of the state will be “deprived” of their rights of celebrating the festival by bursting crackers if the order is not modified. Diwali 2018: Green Firecrackers Named SWAS, SAFAL and STAR Made by CSIR to Be 15–20% Cheaper, Pollution-Free. 

On October 23, the Supreme Court had permitted the sale and manufacture of "green" firecrackers which have low emission across the country. A bench comprising Justices Ashok Bhushan and A K Sikri had fixed the two hour time period for the bursting of firecrackers on Diwali and other festivals. Sale of Safe and Green Firecrackers Allowed, No Complete Ban Across India, Rules Supreme Court Ahead of Diwali 2018.

The Court had restricted the bursting of crackers across India to two hours—from 8 PM to 10 PM—on Diwali and other festivities. The apex court also set a separate slot—11.55 PM to 12.30 AM for bursting crackers during Christmas and New Year’s Eve celebrations throughout the nation.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Oct 30, 2018 12:11 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).