New Delhi: Following the Puttingal Temple tragedy that killed more than a 100 people in a fire, the Kerala High Court on Tuesday banned sound-making fireworks displays – not dangerous fireworks displays – in all places of worship in the state, between sunset and sunrise.
The temple tragedy occurred when sparks from fireworks fell on a store room where even more firecrackers were kept. No permission had been given to hold the display.
The High Court also sought the state government’s opinion on whether the CBI should investigate the Kollam temple tragedy.
The High Court asked the government whether it thinks ‘anti-nationals’ were involved in the temple tragedy because the area is close to the sea from where there could be infiltration.
Earlier, a senior Kerala High Court Judge suggested immediate judicial intervention by the court to stop “man-made” tragedies like the Kollam mishap.
“The time is more than ripe for immediate judicial intervention to stop such man-made tragedies by banning the use of high decibel explosive fire crackers,” Justice V. Chitambaresh said in a letter to the Registrar General of the HC, The Times of India reported.
“The right to profess, practice and propagate the religion of one’s choice under Article 25 of the Constitution of India does not take in the freedom to use dangerous crackers. Pyrotechnics display using ‘Amittu’, ‘Gundu’, ‘Kathinavedi’, etc., have to be banned and at best only low decibel Chinese-type crackers can be permitted for display,” he added.
The ‘Devaswom Bench’ comprising Justices Thottathil B. Radhakrishnan and Anu Sivaraman will consider the Justice Chitambaresh’s petition on Tuesday afternoon
He urged the Registrar General to present his letter to the Devaswom bench and consider if it could be treated as a Public Interest Litigation with appropriate interim orders passed on it.