The Madras High Court has been moved praying for stricter regulation of upcoming Vinayaka Chathurthi festivities, annually celebrated in public streets of the state..Two petitions have been filed contending that the wanton manner in which they are being allowed to take place effectively creates public nuisance..Last Friday, a petition filed by social activist Traffic Ramaswamy was admitted by the First Bench comprising Chief Justice Indira Banerjee and Justice M Sundar. In his petition, Ramaswamy has argued that the conduct of the annual festival obstructs traffic, enables forced donations which cannot be accounted for, leads to damage of public property, water pollution and noise pollution..Notably, he has also alleged that the celebrations have been the backdrop to electricity theft. It has been submitted that the festivities are being conducted without having obtained permission from concerned local authorities, and without NOCs from the Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation (TANGEDCO)..A similar petition was admitted today by a Division Bench comprising Justices M Sathyanarayanan and M Sundar. In addition to the concerns aforementioned, the petitioner has placed special emphasis on pollution caused owing to the display of idols for the festival and their immersion in water bodies at the conclusion of the festivities..It has been argued that the idols used for display are made using chemical materials that are toxic and harmful to the environment. Whereas the state submitted certain guidelines that had been framed to regulate the immersion of idols, the Court noted that the same do not deal with the aspect of insulating the idols to prevent pollution..Stricter regulation and monitoring has also been prayed for on the ground of likelihood of communal tensions. The date on which the idols are expected to be immersed, i.e. September 3, follows the day on which Bakrid is to be celebrated..The Court has clubbed both matters and posted the cases for hearing on August 23. TANGEDCO is expected to file a report on measures taken to counter energy theft, as per directions given on Friday..Today, the Court issued directions to the State for presentation of guidelines concerning insulation of display idols, if any, to minimise water pollution caused by their immersion in water..Read writ petitions filed below..Click here to download the Bar & Bench Android App
The Madras High Court has been moved praying for stricter regulation of upcoming Vinayaka Chathurthi festivities, annually celebrated in public streets of the state..Two petitions have been filed contending that the wanton manner in which they are being allowed to take place effectively creates public nuisance..Last Friday, a petition filed by social activist Traffic Ramaswamy was admitted by the First Bench comprising Chief Justice Indira Banerjee and Justice M Sundar. In his petition, Ramaswamy has argued that the conduct of the annual festival obstructs traffic, enables forced donations which cannot be accounted for, leads to damage of public property, water pollution and noise pollution..Notably, he has also alleged that the celebrations have been the backdrop to electricity theft. It has been submitted that the festivities are being conducted without having obtained permission from concerned local authorities, and without NOCs from the Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation (TANGEDCO)..A similar petition was admitted today by a Division Bench comprising Justices M Sathyanarayanan and M Sundar. In addition to the concerns aforementioned, the petitioner has placed special emphasis on pollution caused owing to the display of idols for the festival and their immersion in water bodies at the conclusion of the festivities..It has been argued that the idols used for display are made using chemical materials that are toxic and harmful to the environment. Whereas the state submitted certain guidelines that had been framed to regulate the immersion of idols, the Court noted that the same do not deal with the aspect of insulating the idols to prevent pollution..Stricter regulation and monitoring has also been prayed for on the ground of likelihood of communal tensions. The date on which the idols are expected to be immersed, i.e. September 3, follows the day on which Bakrid is to be celebrated..The Court has clubbed both matters and posted the cases for hearing on August 23. TANGEDCO is expected to file a report on measures taken to counter energy theft, as per directions given on Friday..Today, the Court issued directions to the State for presentation of guidelines concerning insulation of display idols, if any, to minimise water pollution caused by their immersion in water..Read writ petitions filed below..Click here to download the Bar & Bench Android App
