NEW DELHI (TIP): In a first of its kind in the history of Indian judicial system, a petition in the Supreme Court has been moved on behalf of three infants aged between 6 and 14 months- for a ban on the use of firecrackers in the upcoming festival months and exercised their right to clean air guaranteed under Article 21 of the Constitution.

“Our lungs have not yet fully developed and we cannot take further pollution through bursting of crackers,” said three infants in their petition before the Supreme Court seeking a ban on crackers. The infants – two six-month-olds Arjun Gopal and Aarav Bhandari and 14-month-old Zoya Rao Bhasin -moved the SC through their advocate fathers to seek several measures to mitigate pollution.

The Supreme Court Rules permit minors to file petitions for the protection of their fundamental rights through their parents and guardians who term themselves as ‘next friends’.

The petitioners sought the SC’s immediate intervention “against inevitable and upcoming widespread use of firecrackers and fireworks and other products of the same classification, especially during Dussehra and Diwali, but thereafter in all other events and festivities as well”. They also wanted measures to check pollution hazards like burning crop residues, polluting vehicles and open waste disposal.

The infants also sought following directions from the court to the government on a ban on burning post-harvest crop residue, stringent action against those who dump dust, malba (concrete waste) and other pollutants and introducing Bharat-V emission norms for vehicles.