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The Supreme Court on Friday, 14 December refused to modify its 9 October order to ban sale of firecrackers in Delhi and NCR this Diwali and expressed anguish that the order was being given a communal twist.
The court's observation came as counsel Prashant Bhushan drew court attention to a statement by Bharatiya Janata Party Delhi unit spokesperson that they would procure firecrackers and distribute them free to children.
The bench told Bhushan: "No politics."
The court said this as one of the petitioners said that Diwali was not only celebrated by the Hindus but also by Jains and Sikhs.
Dismissing the applications for modification and recall of the October order, the court said it would be open to holders of temporary licences to seek their renewal and the request could be considered by police authorities.
The court said this as temporary licence holders told the bench that they had obtained such licences after the 12 September order that lifted the ban and that their licences were valid only up to 21 October.
On Monday, 11 December, the Supreme Court, in an effort to check pollution, slapped a temporary ban on the sale of firecrackers in the Delhi-National Capital Region till 31 October.
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