KOCHI: The Kerala High Court has permitted the burning of Pappanji set up at the Veli Ground in Fort Kochi, as part of New Year celebrations. Justice Harishankar V Menon gave permission to burn Pappanji with conditions including the need for security arrangements.

The organizers, Gala de Fort, approached the high court against the police not allowing to burn the 40-foot-tall effigy. The police had also demanded to remove it. With the court's permission, this time the effigy will be burned at the Fort Kochi Parade Ground and Veli Maidan.

The police stopped the burning of the effigy at the Veli Maidan due to the possibility of a law-and-order problem. It is estimated that more than a thousand policemen are required to provide security for the burning of the effigy at the Fort Kochi Parade Ground on the night of December 31. In addition, the police argued that there would be security problems if the effigy is burnt at the Veli Maidan. There is a distance of two kilometers between the two grounds. The petitioners had informed the court that they had received the necessary security permissions from all departments. The court then granted permission with conditions including setting up security barricades around the effigy.

As part of the security measures, the organizers have installed 42 surveillance cameras at the Veli Maidan. A separate pavilion will be set up for foreigners and locals on New Year's Day. The organizers had also decided to set up towers for police surveillance. The uncertainty surrounding the burning of the effigy in the open-air market has been eliminated with the court order. Although the Pappanji was prepared last year as well, the police did not give permission to burn it.