Observing that prima facie, there is no commandment in any holy book to burst crackers for pleasing god, the Kerala High Court Friday directed all district collectors in the state to issue instructions to ensure that “henceforth, no crackers shall be burst in religious places at odd time (sic)”. The bench of Justice Amit Rawal, in an interim order, stated: “I thus direct the Deputy Collector, with the Assistance of the Commissioner of Police, Cochin and other districts, to conduct raids in all religious places and take into possession crackers illegally stored in all religious places and issue instructions that henceforth, no crackers shall be burst in religious places at odd time as prima facie, there is no commandment in any of the holy books to burst crackers for pleasing the God.” The court was hearing a petition moved by seven persons seeking a direction to the Chief Controller of Explosives, Southern Circle Chennai, and the Director of Explosives Regional Office, Kochi, to refrain from granting permit to the Marattil Kottaram Bhagavathy Temple at Maradu from carrying out fireworks at the temple in connection with a festival. The petitioners live in Maradu. The court said, “All the temple holders, except a few, do not have a licence. Even if the licences are issued, they should not be, since bursting (crackers) causes noise and air pollution. Crackers are burst at odd hours, disturbing peace. This fact is not denied by the learned counsel representing the respondents (temple authorities). even this court had heard the noise of crackers after midnight.” The court asked all District Collectors to comply with the order. “It is made clear that in case after today’s order, if (there is) bursting of crackers, the court may be compelled to initiate contempt proceedings,” the court said, directing the state government counsel to submit a report before the next date of hearing on November 24.
