The ban on firecrackers beyond the time specified by the Supreme Court was violated in many areas of Chennai as people rejoiced in the celebrations on Diwali night.
As per an official release, a total of 581 cases have been registered so far in Chennai, including 554 cases related to the bursting of firecrackers beyond the time specified by the apex Court.
According to the Supreme Court order, on the pleas of the Government of Tamil Nadu, on the occasion of Deepavali, people were allowed to use fire-crackers for 2 hours only from 6 am – 7 am and from 7 pm – 8 pm.
However, revellers flouted the orders of the apex court and continued bursting crackers in several parts of the state capital on Sunday night.
Accordingly, the Commissioner of Police, Greater Chennai Police, Sandeep Rai Rathore and several police teams led by Inspectors of Police were engaged in intensive surveillance in their jurisdiction. The police team engaged in intensive surveillance from November 11-13 with raids on cracker distributors.
554 cases related to the bursting of firecrackers beyond the time specified by the Supreme Court, the release said that 8 cases related to running a firecracker shop in violation of Tamil Nadu Government rules and 19 cases regarding bursting of firecrackers with excessive noise, a total of 581 cases have been registered.
Post-Diwali, roads in Tamil Nadu’s capital city Chennai were left littered with fireworks waste and the air quality dipped to poor early Monday morning. The air quality in several areas of Chennai was also recorded as poor this morning.
In the last 5 years, the Tamil Nadu government has specified the timings for celebrating with firecrackers.
The state government advisory read, “As per the Supreme Court’s directions, people are requested to follow the dos and don’ts to celebrate a safe and pollution-free Diwali.”
[13/11, 13:28] Nunn Legally Speaking: Bombay HC Grants Relief to Terminated Teachers of Jalna School
The Aurangabad bench of the Bombay High Court granted relief to seven teachers terminated by the management of an English medium school in Jalna.
A bench of Justices Ravindra Ghuge and Y G Khobragade issued an order staying the termination of these teachers from M S English School in Jalna.
These teachers, part of a group of 42 educators represented by advocate Talhar Ajay, had filed a writ petition. They highlighted concerns about the inadequate and irregular salaries they were receiving, along with their abrupt termination by the school management.
With service periods ranging from six to 26 years, these educators asserted that they were terminated without prior notice or cause, despite receiving annual temporary appointment orders. Their salaries were irregular and meager, fluctuating between Rs 12,000 to Rs 30,000.
The bench expressed concern about the situation, stating that if these teachers had been consistently working for such durations, branding them as temporary employees seemed excessive. The court emphasized the need for the regularization of trained graduates after a probationary period in such schools. Furthermore, the bench highlighted that even in the industrial sector, temporary appointments are subject to specific regulations, and certain mandates exist regarding the regularization of employment.
The court dismissed the school management’s claim that the case belonged under the School Tribunal under the MPEPS Act. As an interim measure, the court suspended the termination order and instructed the school to deposit outstanding salaries and pay up until November 2023 in court.
Additionally, the court directed the divisional deputy director of education in the Aurangabad division to gather comprehensive details about the school’s operations and present a detailed report.
The school management was given a deadline to submit its response by December 6, 2023.