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The Calcutta High Court is set to hear a plea today at 2 pm on the implementation of an order of the Supreme Court on use and sell of firecrackers during upcoming festivities. While warning parties of exemplary costs, it pointed out that the petition has been moved last minute.

The Court asked the parties the reason of delay and on how to plan on implementing any order on such a short notice. "What were you doing in October, this is last minute," the Court said, adding, "Get ready for exemplary costs".

The Supreme Court on Monday had set aside a Calcutta High Court order imposing a total ban on use of firecrackers during festivals such as Kali Puja, Diwali, Chhath Puja, Jagadhatri Puja, Gurpurab, Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve this year, terming it an “extreme order”.

The Calcutta High Court bench of Sabyasachi Bhattachrya and Anuraddha Roy had banned the use of any kind of firecrackers including green crackers during the upcoming festivities. The Calcutta High Court had stated that the state authorities are not well equipped to differentiate between normal firecrackers and green crackers, hence the use of all was banned.

The Supreme Court stated that the State of West Bengal will explore the possibility of ensuing that no banned materials are imported. The mechanism may be strengthened. Orally, the Supreme Court observed that there cannot be a complete ban of firecrackers, saying, "Strengthen the mechanism to stop misuse."

The top court had ordered, “We do not deem it necessary to dilate on this aspect, as we are of the view that if the High Court wanted to impose a complete ban, it should have called upon the parties to offer explanation about the aspects which were weighing with it (not specifically pleaded or argued) requiring such extreme order and departure from the consistent directions given by this court…”