Chennai: The Tamil Nadu government yesterday submitted before Madras High Court that it would not allow any other shops except cracker outlets in the Island Grounds as done last year.
A submission to this effect was made by Government Advocate before the First Bench comprising Acting Chief Justice Rajesh Kumar Agrawal and Justice M Sathyanarayanan, while handing over a copy of the letter addressed to him by the Fire and Rescue Department of North Zone.
This was in response to a PIL by social activist K R Ramaswamy alias ‘Traffic' Ramaswamy, seeking a direction to quash a tender notice issued by the Managing Director, Tamil Nadu Tourism Development Corporation, calling for vendors to take part in mega Diwali Fair 2013 to sell crackers along with garments and sweet stalls, parking and ‘most dangerous' move of setting up amusement park attracting children in Grounds.
Ramaswamy submitted that authorities after continuous litigations now permitted sale of crackers in the open place of the Grounds where wholesale and retail fireworks shops would be located.
He further submitted the authorities have called for tenders on Sept 5 from vendors to have shops there.
The notice was illegal and against law and was liable to be set-aside as they are inducing persons who come to purchase crackers with amusement park and other shops, which would endanger lives of people.
The bench has posted the matter for further hearing on September 30.
