File objections on cracker ban, HC tells State

Hearing a petition filed by City-based advocate and party in person, B V Puttegowda, the Division Bench comprising acting Chief Justice Vikramajit Sen and Justice A S Bopanna directed the State government to file objections within two weeks. It adjourned the matter for further hearing after Gangadhar Sangolli, counsel for Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB), submitted that the ban on bursting crackers between 10 pm and 6 am already existed. “There is already a ban on crackers by the Supreme Court. The State government had been directed to initiate action way back in 2004. On any specific violations, the petitioner can approach the authority concerned not below the rank of a DySP,” he said.

The KSPCB also submitted an affidavit stating that it was just a regulating authority and that it was ready to assist the police in this regard.

During the hearing, when the counsel for KSPCB mentioned that today (September 26) was the day of the hearing impaired, the acting Chief Justice said, “It is good that we are hearing this matter today.”

The petitioner, in his submission, had cited several incidents of eye injuries due to use of crackers during Deepavali, and submitted that indiscriminate use of crackers during the festival had resulted in serious injuries, and many had lost their vision. Pointing out that some reports of hospitals related to damage of vision due to bursting of crackers, Puttegowda said most of the victims were children below 15 years and submitted that some of the hospitals had even recommended a ban on fireworks.

He also said the use of crackers was a violation of the Environment Protection Act, 1986, as it led to noise, air and water pollution.

Yeddyurappa case

The High Court has adjourned the hearing of a petition filed by former chief minister B S Yeddyurappa seeking quashing of a lower court proceedings against him.

Advocate Sirajin Basha moved an application seeking to post the matter along with other similar cases against Yeddyurappa and Hemchandra Sagar that are pending before another bench.

HDK case

The Court has adjourned the hearing of the petition by H D Kumaraswamy seeking to quash the proceedings against him to October 17.