Recently, the division bench of the Madras High Court has stayed the order passed by a single bench, in which permission was given to sell idols made of plaster of Paris. In the special sitting of the Madras High Court, the court made it clear that there will be no sale or manufacturing of idols made of plaster of Paris during the Vinayaka Chaturthi festival.

The division bench of Justice SS Sundar and Justice D Bharat Chakraborty has passed this interim order while hearing the appeal of the state government challenging the order of the single bench.

The court has given this decision keeping in mind the argument of the state government, in which as per the guidelines issued by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), idols made of non-toxic and non-carbon raw materials like clay and biodegradable should be promoted. And statues made of plaster of Paris and plastic should be banned. The court further said that this matter needs to be considered in detail. After this the matter was adjourned for a week.

It is noteworthy that on Saturday (September 16), the Single Bench Court had said that immersion of idols made of plaster of Paris in water bodies cannot be allowed, however, the authorities cannot stop the sale of idols.

The court had said that the artisans making idols have the right to sell their goods and this right is given under Article 19(1)(g) of the Constitution. The court had also said that stopping the sale would be a violation of fundamental rights. In such a situation, if the idols are environment friendly then their manufacture and sale cannot be stopped.

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