Arjun Gopal vs Union Of India .

The Supreme Court, while addressing a public interest litigation under Article 32, considered the urgent need to restrict the use of fireworks due to severe air pollution in the National Capital Region, invoking the Explosives Act, 1884 and the Environment (Protection) Rules, 1986. The Court highlighted that PM2.5 levels had exceeded 700 µg/m3, significantly above WHO standards, necessitating immediate action to protect public health. The Court's holding emphasized the importance of regulating fireworks to mitigate air pollution, thereby granting the petitioners' request for a writ of mandamus to impose restrictions.