New Delhi, Oct. 6 (PTI): The Supreme Court on Friday reserved its verdict on a plea seeking restoration of its November 2016 ban on the sale of firecrackers in the Delhi-NCR.

The bench said it would try to deliver its verdict on Monday, which is ten days before Diwali.

The Central Pollution Control Board supported the plea before a bench headed by Justice A.K. Sikri and said the November 11, 2016, order should be restored and the use of firecrackers banned in Delhi-National Capital Region.

The apex court had suspended all licences that permitted wholesale and retail sale of firecrackers within the National Capital Region, but lifted the order temporarily on September 12 this year with a promise of a review after Diwali, which is on October 20 this year.

It had said a complete ban would be an “extreme step”, and a graded approach was needed to curb air pollution caused by firecrackers.

During Friday’s hearing, advocate Gopal Shankarnarayanan, appearing for petitioner Arjun Gopal, told the bench that the ban on use of firecrackers should be restored as the NCR had witnessed huge rise in air pollution during and after Diwali last year.

He said the rise in air pollution during last Diwali was because the extensive use of firecrackers, among other things.

Advocate Vijay Panjwani, appearing for the CPCB, said they supported the petitioner's plea.

The counsel for the permanent licensees selling firecrackers opposed the plea and said the September 12 order temporarily lifting the ban was “well-reasoned” and passed after hearing all the parties, including the CPCB.

On Thursday, the bench had observed that the matter had “progressed from time to time” after the order was passed in November last year.

The court, however, had said its order lifting the ban on sale of firecrackers might require a “review” after Diwali depending on the ambient air quality after the festival.