With the Division Bench of the Kerala High Court order modifying its earlier order banning fireworks at religious places at odd hours, status quo is set to prevail in the festival fireworks industry. While modifying the Single Bench order, the court held that there shall be a ban on the use of fireworks between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m., unless the State authorities pass specific orders granting exemption to particular religious places, subject to earlier apex court judgments.
The apex court itself had earlier observed that there shall be a complete ban on sound-emitting firecrackers between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m, while stating that it is not necessary to impose restrictions on bursting of colour/light emitting firecrackers. Although previous judgments had clearly restricted the use of sound-emitting fireworks at odd hours, the festival industry, which is known for flouting rules, often obtains permission from the ruling dispensations by exerting pressure.
Advocate M. Jayasurya, religious scholar and vice president of All India Kisan Morcha, who conducted a study on the festival firework industry in Kerala from 2000 to 2008, said that the industry was then estimated to be worth over ₹2,000 crore with more than 36,400 festivals a year in Kerala. The industry has now grown over twofold the size and now has the potential to bring governments in line.
