By our legal Correspondent
Kochi, Nov 04 (IVC) The High Court of Kerala on Nov 03 ordered a ban on bursting of firecrackers in religious places of worship at odd hours.
Justice Amit Rawal while passing the order observed that prima facie there was no commandment in any holy book to burst crackers to please God.
The court directed all District Collectors and District Police Chiefs to issue instructions to all religious places of worship in the State in this regard.
The Court also directed all Deputy Collectors to conduct searches with the assistance of police in all the religious places of worship and seize firecrackers found stored illegally. The court passed the on a writ petition filed by Binoj Kumar and other residents of Maradu , near Thripunithura , alleging that indiscriminate fireworks displays using heavy explosives at Kottaram Bhagavathy Temple during February-March period every year caused environmental pollution and posed threat to buildings of nearby residents. The windows of buildings and cars were shattered under the impact of the explosions , the petitioners submitted.
They pointed out that government school grounds adjacent to the temple were being used for the fireworks displays. The school premises were dug up for the purpose, incurring huge costs for renovations. The organizers were using the school grounds without the permission of the school authorities. In fact , the use of school premises for purposes other than education was per se illegal, the petitioners said.
Moreover heavy explosives like dynamites were being used for the display. The explosion of dynamite during the fireworks infringed the right of the petitioners to life guaranteed under Article 21 of the Constitution.
The petitioners had every right to live peacefully without the fear of any damage or danger to their life and properties. They alleged that the decade-old fireworks displays had claimed three lives in the past and caused injuries to several persons. The main objective of the organizers was to make profit out of collecting huge amounts as contribution to exhibit fireworks.
