SC concern over loss of jobs in cracker units makes suppliers happy

Cracker manufacturers in Sivakasi had a reason to cheer following the Supreme Court’s observation on March 12 on the impact of a blanket ban on the livelihood of those in the industry. “We cannot give money or jobs or support people who will lose their jobs if we shut down firecrackers manufacturing units. We do not want to generate unemployment,” Justice SA Bobde said.

The observation has surprised the industry, after the 23 October 2018 order that had banned the manufacture, sale, and use of loud and toxic firecrackers, while permitting green crackers, just days ahead of the Deepavali festival. On March 12, Justice Bobde had also observed that the industry was legal and licensed.

Expressing happiness over the court’s positive line of approach, K Mariappan, former general secretary, Tamil Nadu Fireworks & Amorces Manufacturers Association (TANFAMA), said, “Two other benches that heard our appeals had only extrapolated Delhi’s pollution to the entire country, while banning crackers. They neither considered culture nor tradition and only stressed the impact crackers had on health. But, now they are looking at the impact the judgment had on the livelihood of eight lakh in Tamil Nadu and 1 crore across the country. We are glad the court is now considering the issue. It is a welcome shift.” This is the first time the case came up before the bench headed by Justice Bobde, as the case was earlier heard by another bench headed by Justice AK Sikri, who retired recently.

Mariappan noted that since October they had lost Rs 200 crore and migration of labourers. “We don’t know if we can recoup the loss and if we would ever be ready for the next season. We will yet again submit all our contentions and place our arguments before the bench and hopefully, we will get a larger relief,” he added.