Ban issued on POP idols of Lord Ganesha. Supreme Court refused to interfere in the decision of Madras High Court

While hearing the case, the bench of Chief Justice DY Chandrachud, Justice JB Pardiwala and Justice Manoj Mishra said – ‘Whatever you want to make, make it of clay. Only clay idols are allowed to be made.

The Supreme Court on Monday, September 18, heard a petition filed against the ban on Ganesh idols made of plaster of Paris (POP). The court refused to interfere with the decision of the Madras High Court.

While hearing the case, the bench of Chief Justice DY Chandrachud, Justice JB Pardiwala and Justice Manoj Mishra said – ‘Whatever you want to make, make it of clay. Only clay idols are allowed to be made. We will not make any changes in the High Court order.

In fact, the Madras High Court on Sunday 17 September had banned the manufacture and sale of Ganesha idols made from POP. The Division Bench of the High Court, in a special hearing, had overturned the order of a single judge, in which permission was given to make and sell idols made of plaster of Paris on Ganesh Chaturthi.

Police had stopped the sculptor from selling Ganesh idol
According to media reports, this case started when the police stopped an artisan from Madurai in Tamil Nadu from selling idols made of POP. On September 16, the artisan filed a petition against this in the single bench court.

Hearing the case, Justice GR Swaminathan said that the sale of Ganesh idols made of POP cannot be banned, but the places of their immersion can be limited.

Artisans will have to maintain a register
Justice Swaminathan further said – For this, the artisans will have to maintain a register. In it they will write the information of the buyer of such idols. This can be inspected by the authorities.

The Tamil Nadu government reached the High Court demanding a stay on this order. On September 17, the division bench of Justice SS Sundar and Justice Bharat Chakraborty heard the case. He stayed the order of the single bench court.

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