Kerala High Court bans bursting of crackers at odd hours in religious places

“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 of the crackers illegally stored in all religious places and issue instructions that henceforth onwards no crackers shall be burst in religious places at odd times as prima facie there is no commandment in any of the holy book to burst crackers for pleasing the God,” the order read.

The petitioners have sought the intervention of the court to prevent the bursting of the crackers in all the religious places situated in Kerala.

“This fact is not denied by the learned counsel representing the respondents as well as the fact that even this court had also heard the noise of the crackers even after midnight,” the court said.

The petitioners contended that explosive licences are being issued by the District Collector under Explosive Rules and many of the temple holders, except a few, are not have any licences.

The court directed the state government to submit a report on the matter and posted it for further hearing on 24 November.

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