Thrissur Pooram: Kerala High Court gives nod, says comply with Supreme Court order

Kochi: Kerala High Court has permitted the authorities to go ahead with the Thrissur Pooram as per the conditions stipulated by the Supreme Court.
The court asked the authorities to strictly comply with the conditions laid down by the apex court in 2007. A major condition is that fireworks that create a maximum of 125 decibel could only be used.

Advocate-General K.P. Dandapani submitted before the court that Thrissur Pooram is an age-old celebration and so rituals and the fireworks are to be permitted and performed as was done in the previous years. He further contended that Pooram is an indispensable social and cultural event of Thrissur.

A division bench comprising Justice Thottathil B. Radhakrishann and Justice Anu Shivaraman also directed the Deputy Chief Controller of Explosives to make arrangements to collect requisite samples of explosives intended to be used for firework in Thrissur Pooram to verify whether any prohibited substance was used.

Meawnhile, the court granted permission to CBCID to go ahead with the inquiry on the Paravur firework disaster which claimed 110 lives. The bench has also asked the investigation team to submit a report on the progress in the investigation on May 18.

The court issued the directions on a suo motu case registered on the basis of a letter written by sitting judge Justice V. Chithambaresh seeking the court's intervention to regulate fireworks in the wake of the Puttingal disaster.

The state government did not oppose handing over the investigation to any other agency. It had entrusted ADGP (Crimes) of Crime Branch to probe the case. Considering the contentions of the state, the court observed, “since the investigation has just begun, it is highly premature to make any comment on the investigation at this stage.”