HC grants interim stay to District Collector's order

The Madras High Court bench here today gave an interim stay on Virudhunagar District Collector's order denying No Objection Certificate for manufacturing fireworks/explosives in the geographical boundaries of Sivakasi, Satur and Virudhunagar Taluks.
Admitting a petition filed by K K C Balaganesh, a cracker manufacturer, Justice M Venugopal granted interim stay on the Collector's order and issued a notice returnable on December 12.
The petitioner contented that the Collector had issued an order stating that no more No Objection Certificate under Rule 102/103 of Explosives Rules-2008 would be granted to any one for explosives licence from Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organization and the District Magistrate/Additional District Magistrate (DRO) to manufacture fireworks/explosives in the three Taluks.

Contending that more than five lakh people are depending on the firework employment directly and indirectly in the district, the petitioner said Virudhunagar district is the apt place for manufacturing crackers as it has a less rainfall and appropriate humidity in the atmosphere for manufacturing crackers.
The petitioner submitted the central government had not delegated any power to the District Collector under Section 17 A of the Explosives Act to decide the areas where new factories are to be allowed/or refused by granting or denying No Objection Certificates.
He also contended that the Collector has powers only to issue license for manufacture of fireworks not exceeding 15 kilogram at a time.