PNP 1 PIL212-09=17.9 IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION PUBLIC INTEREST LITIGATION NO.212 OF 2009 The Kopari Bachav Samittee Through its President : Harish Prem Sarwan ..Petitioners. Vs. State of Maharashtra and others ..Respondents. .... Mr. Sandesh Patil for the Petitioners. Mr. N.R. Bubna for Respondent No.2. ..... CORAM : DR. D.Y.CHANDRACHUD, and SMT.R.P.SONDURBALDOTA, JJ. 17 September 2010. P.C. : 1. The Petition which has been filed in the public interest by an organization representing the residents of Kopari, Thane (East) raises an issue relating to the storage of fire crackers during the ensuing Diwali festival in congested areas of the city. A direction has been sought to the Thane Municipal Corporation to ensure that suitable arrangements are made for the storage and sale of fire crackers in suitable open plots only. PNP 2 PIL212-09=17.9 2. During the course of the hearing of these proceedings, counsel appearing on behalf of the Municipal Corporation has on the instructions of Mrs. Vandana Gulve, Assistant Municipal Commissioner, Licence Department stated that a policy decision has been taken by the Municipal Corporation that henceforth (i) temporary permissions for the storage and sale of fire crackers shall be granted only on open grounds which have been identified by the Corporation and (ii) in respect of existing shops, where the licenses allow the storage of fire crackers upto a certain specified quantity subject to the permission of the Chief Fire Officer under the provisions of the Explosives Act, the provisions contained in the licence in regard to the nature and quantity of permissible fire crackers and the mode of storage shall be strictly enforced. We direct that the Municipal Corporation shall take necessary steps to ensure that the statement which has been made before the Court, is duly enforced with a view to protecting the safety of the residents against any possible harm resulting from the storage of fire crackers. In view of the statements which have been made on behalf of the Municipal Corporation, counsel appearing on behalf of the Petitioners states that the grievance which is sought to be PNP 3 PIL212-09=17.9 highlighted in the Petition has been attended to and that no further directions from the Court are necessary. The Petition shall accordingly stand disposed of taking on record the assurance which has been placed before the Court on behalf of the Municipal Corporation. (DR. D.Y.CHANDRACHUD, J.) (SMT.R.P.SONDURBALDOTA, J.)