The Hindu : Front Page : Firecrackers allowed for Pooram

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Tuesday, Mar 27, 2007
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Firecrackers allowed for Pooram

J. Venkatesan

Supreme Court order on application filed by Thiruvambadi Devaswom

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday permitted bursting of firecrackers as part of the Thrissur Pooram festivities in Kerala in April along with the customary playing of musical instruments.

A Bench comprising Chief Justice K.G. Balakrishnan and Justice R.V. Raveendran had earlier granted permission with a condition that while playing the instruments in the festival no loudspeaker or any other amplifier should be used and the noise level should not exceed 55 decibels.

Since the order was silent on use of firecrackers, the Thiruvambadi Devaswom filed an application seeking clarification and to permit use of firecrackers at a scheduled place and time.

Government stance

Counsel for the temple submitted that conducting the festival without firecrackers would be meaningless. He said firecrackers could be allowed at a particular time and a particular place. He also said the upper decibel limit in the noise level should be removed.

Counsel for the State Government said the State would have no objection to bursting of crackers as such festivities were going on for centuries. He said the State was contemplating filing a comprehensive application shortly on use of loudspeakers and firecrackers in temples and other places.

He said the court could then pass a detailed order.

The Bench, however, modified the order by deleting the fixation of upper decibel limit in the noise level and permitting use of crackers in the festival.

Order hailed

Staff Reporter writes from Thrissur: The Thiruvambadi and Paramekkavu Devaswoms have welcomed the Supreme Court clarification.

Office-bearers of the Devaswoms, however, maintained that they would speak more about it only after its full text was available to them.

The Devaswoms said that this year's fireworks would have "more colour and less noise."

"We have assured Home Minister Kodiyeri Balakrishnan and Revenue Minister K.P. Rajendran that there will be no violation of rules in display of fireworks," Paramekkavu Devaswom secretary P.R. Ravichandran said.

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