'Matters beyond the scope of consideration'; govt against High court verdict banning bursting crackers at religious places

KOCHI: The Kerala government has filed a plea against the verdict issued by a single bench of the Kerala High Court banning the bursting of firecrackers at odd hours at religious places. The government filed an appeal in the High Court seeking the cancellation of the interim order. In the petition, the government stated that the single bench examined matters which are beyond the scope of consideration.

Several temples and Devaswoms had reacted against the High Court verdict banning the bursting of firecrackers at religious places. Justice Amit Rawal issued the verdict on a petition seeking a ban on bursting firecrackers at Kottaram Bhagavathy Temple in Maradu. Temples argued that the High Court order would put the state's festival season into crisis. The Devaswoms had also informed the government that fireworks at night could not be avoided from the temple rituals.

Fireworks at night are very much important in big festivals like Thrissur Pooram. There are currently two Supreme Court orders and one High Court Division Bench order permitting fireworks. Devaswom Minister K Radhakrishnan had said that it is impossible to hold the temple festivals by completely avoiding fireworks.

Meanwhile, the court order states that firecrackers cause noise and environmental pollution and firecrackers which are illegally stored in places of worship should be inspected and seized.