Bombay High Court modifies order banning Ganapati idols made of plaster of paris
The Bombay High Court on Monday modified its January order through which it had put a complete ban on the manufacturing and sale of Ganpati idols made out of Plaster of Paris (PoP).The bench of Chief Justice Alok Aradhe and Justice Sandeep Marne went through an affidavit filed by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) through advocate Abhinandan Vaigyanik.The bench in its order said, "It will be open to the petitioners as well as artisans making PoP idols. However, the same shall not be immersed in natural water bodies without the leave of the court."advertisement
The bench also granted three weeks' time to the Maharashtra government to clarify its stand and will hear the petitions again on June 30.The Maharashtra government wrote to the CPCB, following which an expert committee was set up to look into the issue, which said that there is no ban on the manufacturing and sale of PoP idols. However, they cannot be immersed in natural water bodies.The CPCB also said that the guidelines issued by it in 2020 with regard to PoP were not statutory in nature, only recommendatory.Following this hearing, the bench said, "This is a classic case of diluting one's own authority. The court is saying you have power, you are saying no."However, in the event of the CPCB stating so, the Maharashtra Advocate General, Dr Birendra Saraf sought time to clear the state government's stand on the issue.advertisementThe Ganpati festival is starting on August 27, 2025 and, with just 65 days remaining, the petitioners requested the court to add in its order that the ban imposed by the court in its January order has been modified.
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