Supreme Court Suggests Virat Kohli's Involvement in Green Diwali Campaign

The Supreme Court of India has called for greater public awareness to encourage people to celebrate Diwali in an environmentally friendly manner without firecrackers. During a hearing on petitions concerning firecracker pollution, the court suggested involving popular sportspersons and celebrities in awareness campaigns. Justice Prasanna B. Varale questioned why prominent athletes were not being roped in to educate the public, while Justice M.M. Sundresh suggested using Indian cricket star Virat Kohli to lead special campaigns in Delhi. The bench emphasised that Diwali is the festival of lights and that celebrities could encourage people to celebrate its spirit without bursting firecrackers.

The court also expressed concern that repeated directions to control pollution were not producing the desired results due to continued violations. Amicus curiae Aparajita Singh highlighted that firecrackers release toxic gases and PM2.5 particles, which can enter the bloodstream and affect vital organs. She also pointed out that green crackers are not entirely pollution-free. While petitioners sought a complete ban on firecracker manufacturing, representatives of manufacturers opposed the proposal, arguing that it could encourage illegal sales and smuggling. The Supreme Court also questioned why only nine out of Delhi's 39 pollution monitoring stations were operational and directed the government to submit details of its pollution control measures.