HC dismisses petition seeking direction on sale of fireworks

The Madras High Court has dismissed a PIL which sought specified places for sale of crackers citing alleged violation of norms and said authorities were naturally duty bound to implement the rules under the Explosives Act.
When the PIL by one Thadayam Babu of Cuddalore came up for hearing recently, the court said, "We are not inclined to entertain the public interest litigation as we find it is devoid of any particular violation of any law.
"Other than making reference to the Explosives Act, and the rules framed under it, the allegation was that the rules were not strictly followed by the officials while issuing licences to shops selling fire crackers," it said.

The petitioner had prayed for a direction to the authorities to issue licences to set up cracker shops in a specified place in each and every town so as to protect the common people from avoidable fire accidents near markets.
"In our view these aspects already exist in the rules and the authorities are naturally duty bound to follow them," the court said and dismissed the petition.