Not far enough

The Kerala High Court has sought to put an end to high-decibel pyrotechnics while also banning any display of fireworks between sunset and sunrise at any place of worship in the state. This is about the least the court could have done although its stand on explosives and its boldness in redefining the law on fireworks displays at religious festivals must be appreciated, all the more since it acted suo motu on the basis of a letter from a fellow judge. Given the connotations of such events getting mixed up in religion and temple festivals, it is doubtful if any court or authority would have slapped an outright ban on fireworks displays in public as well as by individuals at festival time. A total ban, although ideal to preserve the lives of people needlessly exposed to the hazards of production of firecrackers and their display, is a concept too far.

The court has only given a template by which the intensity and decibel level of fireworks can be controlled, while also prescribing, quite thoughtfully, that firecrackers should produce more colour than sound. By restricting the displays to daytime, sparkling fireworks might be denied the spectacle they are designed to create and people would always be looking for ways to present the bigger bang. A lot more self-regulation is needed in the staging of fireworks displays as otherwise another Paravoor is a tragedy just waiting to happen because, in India, life is cheap and safety standards are mere entries in government and judicial orders.