The Kerala High Court on Thursday issued conditional permission to fireworks display as part of the Thrissur Pooram, one of Kerala’s most popular temple festivals.
The Pooram, scheduled on April 17 and 18, had come under a cloud of uncertainty after a division bench of the High Court ordered strict implementation of existing restrictions on firework shows in the state.
The court said the 2007 Supreme Court order which permitted fireworks as part of the Pooram should be followed, while ensuring that banned chemicals are not used in the fire-crackers and stipulated checks on sound levels are adhered to.
The State Government also withdrew an earlier order which stipulated restrictions on parading elephants as part of the Pooram festivities.
Earlier in the day, an all-party meeting called by the State Government here, to discuss safety issues in the wake of the Puttingal Temple tragedy, decided in favour of “effective regulation” over a blanket ban on fireworks in the state.
Chief Minister Oommen Chandy, however, told reporters after the meeting that competitive fireworks would not be allowed in the state.
The Chief Minister said the government would continue to back the ongoing Crime Branch investigation on the Puttingal incident but was open to a CBI probe if there is a court directive.
A Cabinet panel consisting of three ministers is collecting details of the Puttingal incident and is expected to submit a report in this connection on Tuesday.
A consensus was also reached on requesting the Centre to consider the Puttingal explosions as a national calamity.
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