The Kerala High Court on Friday ordered the state authorities to conduct raids in all religious places and take into possession firecrackers ‘illegally’ stored in such places. It further said that there is no commandment in any of the holy books to burst crackers to please God.
“I thus direct the Deputy Collector with the assistance of the Commissioner of Police, Cochin, and other districts, to conduct raids in all religious places and take into possession of the crackers illegally stored in all religious places and issue instructions that henceforth onwards no crackers shall be burst in religious places at odd time as prima facie there is no commandment in any of the holy books to burst crackers for pleasing the God,” the court said.
“Let this order be circulated to all the District Collectors in Kerala for compliance. It is made clear that in case after today’s order, if it is found or reported bursting of crackers, the court may be compelled to initiate contempt proceedings,” it added.
The court asked state counsel to submit a report on this before the next date of hearing and posted the matter for November 24, 2023.
