#Puttingal FireTragedy; No noise making firecrackers in any place of worship between sunset and sunrise: Kerala HC [Read Order]

High Court of Kerala in a Suo motto Public Interest Litigation, ordered that no noise making fire crackers can be used in any place of worship between sunset and the sunrise. The Bench also said that the firecrackers used in the day time should also not be making noise more than 140 Decibels.

Division bench comprising of Justices Thottathil B. Radhakrishnan and Anu Sivaraman came down heavily on the state Government and asked why the police department and the Kollam District executive did not stop the use of fireworks at the temple in spite of the district Magistrate’s refusal to allow the event.

The state counsel during the hearing submitted that the police officials had approached the temple committee and enquired whether they had prior permission or licenses to conduct such an event. Then they were told by the committee officials that they will produce it before them. The Bench expressed amusement about the fact that the police left with such a mere oral assurance by the committee.

The Police commissioner, Kollam who was present in the court room submitted before the Bench that the organisers were charged with offences under section 304 IPC. The Bench asked why they were not charged under section 302 IPC. The Bench was repeatedly seen asking whether the probe by state police would be sufficient and suggested CBI investigation.

The government asked for ten days’ time to submit the affidavit as Vishu is approaching, the court then posted the matter to 14^th of this month i.e. Vishu Day.

Yesterday, a sitting Judge of High Court of Kerala Justice V. Chitambaresh had written a letter [LETTER] to High Court seeking ban on high-decibel explosives in Fireworks display. This letter was treated as a PIL and the bench comprising of Justices Thottathil B. Radhakrishnan and Anu Sivaraman, heard the matter today.

Read the order here.