“We will not hurt religious sentiments, but at the same time, people should themselves come forward and opt for it. The whole exercise should involve a balancing approach,” the CJI said, emphasising the need to make citizens aware of the health hazards of firecrackers

Singapore has introduced medical subsidies for haze-related illnesses as Indonesian forest fires worsen air pollution across Southeast Asia. Malaysia has kept some schools closed, while flight cancellations highlight the regional impact of the toxic haze intensified by El Niño conditions