Days after the Supreme Court banned the sale of firecrackers in Delhi-NCR till November 1, the Punjab and Haryana High Court has issued notices to the two states and the Union territory of Chandigarh asking them to furnish details of licences issued for sale of crackers.

A high court bench of justices A K Mittal and Amit Rawal sought the response of the authorities while taking note of the issue of pollution caused by firecrackers, media reports said.

“While taking suo motu notice, the division bench has sought details about temporary licences issued for firecrackers from Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh,” senior advocate Anupam Gupta reportedly said.

The court has asked them to provide detail by Friday, he was quoted as saying.

The bench has appointed Gupta as amicus curiae (court’s friend) to assist it in the matter, reported PTI.