The Bombay High Court has banned firecrackers on public roads, streets and footpaths in Mumbai.
The bench called it shocking that Mumbai’s pollution is surpassing Delhi’s.
The heads of the BMC, the Mumbai Police and the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board must appear on October 26.
Firecrackers are completely banned in silence zones, including areas near hospitals, courts and schools.
The court warned of contempt proceedings if the lapses continued.
The Bombay High Court on Wednesday, October 21, 2026, banned the bursting of firecrackers on public roads, streets and footpaths in Mumbai, according to Outlook India, Free Press Journal and The Statesman, in reports published on October 22.
The bench of Justice Girish S Kulkarni and Justice Neela Gokhale expressed concern about worsening air pollution during the festive season, according to Outlook India.
The court called it shocking that Mumbai was recording higher pollution levels than Delhi, according to Bar and Bench and Outlook India.
Outlook India, citing aqi.in, says Mumbai’s air quality index stayed between 150 and 200 over the past week, a range the article describes as unhealthy. Free Press Journal gave no AQI figures.
A complete prohibition on firecrackers applies in designated silence zones, including areas around hospitals, government offices, courts and schools, according to Outlook India.
The Commissioner of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation and the Mumbai Police Commissioner must file an affidavit by October 26 on the measures taken to comply, according to the reports.
A standard operating procedure is to be formulated for taking action against violators, according to Outlook India.
The Police Commissioner must convene a meeting with senior officers from all police stations on the restrictions and their enforcement, according to the same report.
The Free Press Journal reports that the heads of the BMC, Mumbai Police and the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board were summoned to appear on October 26 to explain their failure to curb pollution and enforce the restrictions.
Bombay High Court building, Mumbai (file image), Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0
