Keywords: Religious places, unconventional hours, Tabernacle, Firecrackers
The Kerala government, led by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, is gearing up to challenge the recent decision by the Kerala High Court to prohibit the use of firecrackers at places of worship during unusual hours. This ruling came into effect last Friday, with the High Court emphasizing that no religious scripture mandates the use of firecrackers to appease the divine.
In response to this ruling, the devaswom boards across the state have collectively decided to file an appeal against the court’s decision. Devaswom Minister K Radhakrishnan explained the rationale behind their decision, stating, “We have carefully reviewed the court’s order, and all devaswom boards are in unanimous agreement that we should challenge it. The order specifically highlights the avoidance of firecrackers during non-traditional hours. While the exact timing details are not specified, hosting religious festivals without the use of firecrackers poses practical challenges. The state government will be examining the appeal process, as the devaswom boards have already resolved to challenge this ruling.”
Justice Amit Rawal, presiding over the case as a single bench, had explicitly banned the use of firecrackers at religious sites during unusual hours. He warned, “If, following this order, any instances of firecracker usage are reported or linked to religious events, the court may be compelled to initiate contempt proceedings.”
Furthermore, the High Court instructed authorities to carry out inspections at all places of worship and confiscate any illegally stored firecrackers. The State Counsel has been tasked with providing a comprehensive report on this matter before the upcoming hearing scheduled for November 24.
Written by : Shalmali Ugare, College: DES Navalmal Firodia Law, College., Sem: 3rd Sem SY LLB legal intern under legal vidhiya
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