Bombay High Court Asks Pollution Control Board, BMC To Respond To Allegations Of Rampant Use Of 'PoP Idols' During Festivals

The matter concerns a PIL that seeks implementation of the ban on using PoP to manufacture religious idols. Today, the counsel for the petitioner stated that there was extensive use of PoP idols during the Diwali and Dussehra festivities this year. The counsel stated that the PoP idols were being used despite a ban and against the Court's earlier order.

A division bench of Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya and Justice Amit Borkar heard the matter and asked the MCPB and BMC to file their response to the petitioner's assertions.

The State counsel stated that necessary information is being collected to file a reply to the petition. The Court granted the State authorities 4 weeks time to file their affidavits.

On August 30, the Court had directed the municipal corporations across the State to impose strict conditions on Mandals not to use idols made from Plaster of Paris (PoP).

The petitioner's counsel stated that the ban on PoP idols is not being implemented by the respondent authorities including the MPCB and BMC. The counsel stated that the MPCB has not taken any action to issue directions against PoP idols under Section 33A of the Water Act. It was stated that though the MPCB filed its affidavit, no reference was made to the scope of the ban on PoP idols under Section 33A of the Water Act.

However, the counsel for MPCB stated that the MPCB cannot take any action against idol manufacturing under the Water Act as it was outside its purview. It stated that only the Municipal Corporation can take action against the manufacturing of PoP idols.

Case title: Rohit Joshi & Ors. vs. State of Maharashtra & ors.