HC had banned the sale of Ganesh idols made of plaster of Paris, now hearing will be held in Supreme Court

The Madras High Court had banned the sale and manufacture of Ganesha idols made of plaster of Paris. The Supreme Court has agreed to hear on Monday the petition challenging the High Court order.

A bench of Chief Justice DY Chandrachud and Justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Mishra agreed to hear the case at the end of the board of listed cases after senior advocate Shyam Divan on Tuesday cited urgency in the matter due to Ganesh Chaturthi festival.

Advocate Shyam Dewan said, "This is a matter which requires urgent hearing. The division bench of the High Court passed the order on Sunday evening. In this order, he has given permission for the sale of Ganesh idols made of plaster of Paris. The order of the single judge was stayed."

The bench had initially asked Diwan to follow the standard operating procedure for listing urgent matters by sending an e-mail to the apex court. However, she agreed to hear the case after the lawyer mentioned the upcoming festival.

Divan said the effect of the order issued by the Madurai bench of the High Court during a special sitting on Sunday is that idols made of plaster of Paris can neither be manufactured nor sold nor can they be immersed.

CJI Chandrachud asked regarding this matter that if people cannot immerse the idols then what will they do with it? Has the Single Judge considered the aspect of immersion?

Diwan said the single judge considered all aspects and asked the district administration to arrange temporary tanks for the immersion of the idols.

The division bench of the High Court has said that the court has passed several orders in the last few years on the use of statues made of plaster of Paris. It said that now that the State Pollution Control Board has prepared guidelines, idols made of plaster of Paris cannot be used.