Bombay High Court bans firecrackers on Mumbai roads as smog worsens
The Bombay High Court has banned firecrackers on Mumbai's public roads and pulled up civic bodies over smog it called an emergency, while Delhi's air stays 'poor' under GRAP Stage I curbs.
At a glance
- A bench of Justices Girish Kulkarni and Neela Gokhale banned bursting firecrackers on Mumbai's public roads, streets and footpaths, and fully in silence zones near hospitals, courts and schools.
- The BMC and Mumbai Police commissioners must file an affidavit by October 26 on how the order is being enforced; police must draw up an SOP against violators.
- The court called pollution higher than Delhi's 'shocking', said citizens should not have to check the AQI before leaving home, and cited the right to life under Article 21.
- Visibility in Mumbai fell below 500 metres this week; the city's AQI has hovered between about 150 and 200.
- In Delhi, the AQI was 223 ('poor') on Friday morning with GRAP Stage I curbs in force since Wednesday; poor air is forecast through Sunday.
The Bombay High Court has banned bursting firecrackers on Mumbai's public roads, streets and footpaths and ordered the city's civic and police chiefs to report by October 26 on how they will enforce it, after judges described the city's worsening smog as an emergency. The order, passed on Wednesday, October 22, 2026, comes as northern India's pollution season begins, with Delhi's air quality index at 223 ('poor') on Friday morning.
What happened
A bench of Justice Girish S. Kulkarni and Justice Neela Gokhale, hearing a public interest petition on noise pollution and firecrackers, issued a set of directions after finding what it called routine violations of its earlier orders.
| Order | Detail |
|---|---|
| Firecrackers on public roads, streets, footpaths | Banned |
| Firecrackers in silence zones (hospitals, courts, schools, government offices) | Fully banned |
| Compliance affidavit | BMC and Mumbai Police commissioners, by October 26 |
| Enforcement | Police to draft an SOP against violators; commissioner to brief all police station chiefs |
| Processions with loudspeakers | Must display police permission prominently |
| Awareness | BMC and MPCB faulted for not running public campaigns on the ban |
The judges said it was "shocking" that Mumbai's pollution was running higher than Delhi's, noting that the coastal city has a sea breeze and open spaces. They questioned why residents should be forced to check the Air Quality Index (AQI) before stepping out of their homes, and said failing to protect clean air touches citizens' constitutional rights to equality and to life under Articles 14 and 21. Justice Kulkarni asked how enforcement officials could sleep peacefully while lakhs of citizens were living through what he called an emergency.
Visibility in Mumbai dropped below 500 metres on Tuesday, and the city's AQI has hovered between about 150 and 200 over the past week — the unhealthy range.
Delhi: Stage I curbs in force
In the capital, the Commission for Air Quality Management invoked Stage I of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) across Delhi-NCR on Wednesday. Delhi's AQI stood at 223 at 8am on Friday, its third day in the 'poor' category. Jahangirpuri (284), Rohini (281) and Punjabi Bagh (275) were the worst stations, while on Thursday Jahangirpuri and Chandni Chowk had briefly touched the 'very poor' range above 300. Forecasters expect poor air through Sunday, with smoke from farm fires likely to add to pollution in the coming days.
| GRAP stage | AQI range | Category |
|---|---|---|
| Stage I (in force) | 201–300 | Poor |
| Stage II | 301–400 | Very poor |
| Stage III | 401–450 | Severe |
| Stage IV | Above 450 | Severe+ |
Background
Every October and November, falling temperatures, calm winds, crop-residue burning in Punjab and Haryana, vehicle exhaust, construction dust and festival firecrackers combine to push pollution up across north India and Pakistan's Punjab. Mumbai has usually escaped the worst thanks to sea winds, but large-scale construction and slower winds have made recent autumns far hazier. The BMC unveiled its winter pollution action plan on Thursday.
Why it matters
Fine particle pollution raises the risk of asthma attacks, lung infections, heart disease and strokes, and children, older people and outdoor workers suffer most. The same seasonal smog regularly crosses into Pakistan: Lahore and other Punjab cities often record some of the world's worst air from late October, leading to school closures and smog curbs.
Practical advice
On high-AQI days, limit outdoor exercise, especially in early morning and evening; wear an N95 mask outdoors; keep windows closed during peak smog; and follow official AQI apps such as SAFAR or CPCB's Sameer for live readings.
What happens next
The BMC and police must file their affidavits by October 26, when the case returns to court. In Delhi, Stage II curbs would follow if the AQI rises into the 'very poor' range for a sustained period.
Questions people are asking
Are firecrackers banned in Mumbai?
Yes. On October 22, 2026, the Bombay High Court banned bursting firecrackers on Mumbai's public roads, streets and footpaths, and completely in silence zones around hospitals, government offices, courts and schools.
What is Mumbai's AQI today?
Mumbai's air quality index has stayed roughly between 150 and 200 over the past week, in the unhealthy range, with visibility falling below 500 metres on some days. Levels change hourly, so check the CPCB or SAFAR apps for live readings.
Is GRAP Stage 2 in force in Delhi?
No. As of October 23, 2026, Delhi-NCR is under GRAP Stage I, invoked on Wednesday when the AQI entered the 'poor' (201–300) range. Stage II applies when the AQI reaches the 'very poor' range of 301–400.
