Bombay High Court Defers Decision on Maharashtra Plan for Large PoP Ganesh Idols
On Wednesday, July 1, the Bombay High Court declined to grant immediate permission to a Maharashtra government proposal that would allow the immersion of Plaster of Paris (PoP) Ganesh idols over six feet in natural water bodies. The court was hearing a public interest litigation originally filed by Thane-based environmentalist Rohit Joshi, which seeks the strict implementation of environmental guidelines against PoP idols. Rather than issuing another temporary order, the division bench decided to hold a final hearing on all related petitions.
The division bench, comprising Justices Ajey Gadkari and Kamal Khata, heard the state's request to continue an arrangement approved by the court in April 2025. Under that arrangement, idols below six feet would be restricted to artificial ponds, while larger idols would be allowed in natural water bodies.
Advocate General Milind Sathe, representing the Maharashtra government, proposed a new pilot project to address environmental concerns. Under this initiative, PoP idols over six feet would be collected, melted, and recycled after immersion. Sathe stated that experts would study the recycled material to determine its future usability.
However, the bench questioned why the state was proposing recycling measures exclusively for PoP idols and not for traditional Shadu clay idols. Advocate Uday Warunjikar, representing PoP idol makers, argued that the issue deeply involves religious faith.
The public interest litigation filed by Thane's Rohit Joshi, through advocate Ronita Bhattacharya, along with clay idol makers, demands the strict enforcement of the Central Pollution Control Board's (CPCB) 2020 guidelines. These guidelines prohibit both the manufacture and the immersion of PoP idols in natural water bodies. Conversely, PoP idol makers have filed petitions challenging the CPCB guidelines, claiming the restrictions violate their fundamental right to livelihood.
During the proceedings, the state government submitted reports from a Technical Committee and an Expert Scientific Committee. Both committees recommended a phased, science-based approach instead of an immediate ban. Their recommendations included launching pilot recycling projects in major cities, studying the environmental impacts of both PoP and clay idols, and utilizing calcination to recycle PoP into materials for cement and plaster boards.
The High Court bench noted that similar temporary applications are made every year. To establish a permanent resolution, the court decided to bypass another interim order and slated all petitions for a final hearing, scheduled to take place in two weeks.
