Bursting crackers except during the permissible period will invite a jail term ranging from one month to six months as the Deputy Commissioners of Chandigarh and  Mohali  and the Panchkula Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) have  issued prohibitory orders  under Section 144 of the CrPC banning the bursting of crackers except on October 19 (Diwali), that too between 6.30 pm and 9.30 pm. 

The orders were issued by UT Deputy Commissioner Ajit Balaji Joshi, Mohali Deputy Commissioner Gurpreet  Kaur  Sapra and Panchkula DCP Manbir Singh under Section 144 of the CrPC for their respective cities.  

The orders said no bursting of crackers will be allowed before Diwali and after it till October 26. The orders were issued after the Punjab and Haryana High Court restricted the timings for bursting crackers to just three hours — between 6.30 pm and 9.30 pm — on Diwali.

The orders issued by the UT Deputy Commissioner said the sale of firecrackers under temporary licences granted by the office will be allowed only in designated areas. The manufacture, sale and use of firecrackers generating a noise level exceeding the permissible limits will be strictly dealt with. The orders have come into effect and will remain in force till October 26.

Rajiv Gupta, ADC of Chandigarh said that under Section 188 of the IPC, violators might face imprisonment for a term which may extend from one month to six months or a fine ranging from Rs 200 to Rs 1,000 or both. No case under Section 188 has been registered in the tricity so far.

The office of the UT Deputy Commissioner has received around 450 applications for licences. The Panchkula  DC’s office  has  received   110 applications from cracker sellers.  Last year, the administration had issued 65 licences in Panchkula, but after the HC directions, only 13 licences will be issued this time.