Traders move the Supreme Court seeking a modification of its order banning the sale of firecrackers in the Delhi-NCR region.

In an effort to check alarming pollution level, the Supreme Court on Monday slapped a temporary ban on the sale of firecrackers in Delhi-NCR region during Diwali this year, dealing a blow to the traders and businessmen dealing in them.

Giving out the order, the apex court maintained that its last month's order, which lifted the stay and permitted the sale of firecrackers, would come into effective only from November 1, 12 days after the 'festival of lights'.

The latest order means the SC has "forthwith' suspended temporary licences issued by the police for sale of firecrackers pursuant to the order of September 12.

The order assumes significance as the court observed that "the air quality deteriorates abysmally and alarmingly and the city chokes thereby' due to the adverse effects of bursting of fire crackers.