Cuttack: The Orissa High Court on Monday upheld a state government order banning the sale and use of fire-crackers aimed at protecting public health and checking the spread of COVID-19.
The High Court order was issued in response to a petition filed by an unregistered association of cracker dealers who ha
d sought quashing of the government order ahead of Diwali.
The court rejected the petition filed by the All Odisha Fire Works Dealers Association saying that the association was not a registered body. The court, however, allowed filing of a fresh plea.
The state government on September 30 prohibited the sale and use of fireworks in the state while announcing its COVID-19 guidelines for October. The order will virtually prevent the use of crackers on Diwali which falls on November 4.
“With a view to protecting the health of the general public and to curb the spread of infection, sale and use of fire-crackers shall remain prohibited during this festive month,” the government said in its guidelines.