Today, the Supreme Court is set to consider a petition challenging the bench of the Madras High Court's recent interim stay order. The High Court's ruling allows for the production and sale of Ganesh idols crafted from Plaster of Paris (PoP) in preparation for Ganesh Chaturthi festivities, while simultaneously imposing restrictions on their immersion in water bodies.

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.

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.

Also Read - Supreme Court Petition raises conflict of Interest concerns in Adani Group Stock Manipulation Probe Committe