Chennai:The Madras high court has directed the authorities to ban the online sales of crackers through online websites.
Justice S.Vaidyanathan granted the interim direction till November 15, on a petition filed by M.Shaik Abdullah, a seller of crackers.
According to petitioner, during the festival seasons, he was selling the crackers at the designated place and he was one of the members of Chennai Metro Fire Works Dealers Association for the past 15 years. As per the orders of the high court, dated October 21, 2011, the sale of crackers suddenly shifted from the shops owned by the sellers to the island grounds. However, the sale of crackers still continuing in the old flower bazaar unlawfully, he added.
He said the members of the association have committed themselves to sell only indigenous crackers exclusively made in Sivakasi, Virudhunagar districts. But, now due to the insensible and lethargic act of the Deputy Chief Controller of Explosives, the online crackers sellers were attempting to sell the crackers online and making the existing cracker sellers suffer and made the new venture of business to enter and sell the crackers online by specifying the lowest cost. Chinese crackers will be sold in the city causing loss to the manufacturers of indigenous crackers. It was secretly sold without any explosive license to sell and without any inspection by any of the authorities of state and central government officials. This year, it was openly advertised in social media and online advertisements in several websites likewww.nammapattasukadai.com.
Therefore, he sent a representation on September 23 to the authorities. But, there was no response, he added.
