Kerala HC bans noise-making fireworks

The Kerala High Court on Tuesday banned the display of sound-emitting firecrackers in all places of worship in the state after sunset.

In an interim order, a division bench of the high court, which deals with matters related to temples, said that after sunset, only light or color-emitting crackers should be used.

It, however, allowed the use firecrackers, not louder than 140 decibel, during daytime.

While considering a letter by high court judge V Chidambaresh, who sought a ban on fireworks at religious festivals in the wake of the Kollam tragedy, the court asked the government why the CBI shouldn’t be asked to step in for the probe, The Indian EXPRESS reports.

The division bench of Justice Thottathil Radhakrishnan and Justice Anu Sivaraman also told the government to strictly implement the Explosives Act and take action against the erring officials.

Observing that the tragedy involved flagrant violation of human rights, the bench noted that the government machinery had failed.

The Solicitor General, who appeared for the Centre, told the court that the fireworks show was held in gross violation of seven conditions in the Explosives Act.

The court was also told the substances used in the firecrackers were not easily available in the open market. The SG said the temple trust had not obtained any sanction to stock the crackers.

The court then asked the police to look into the involvement of anti-national forces in the tragedy considering that the temple was located close to the coastal area.

The court has directed Kollam Police Commissioner and district collector to file separate affidavits regarding the tragedy.