HC rejects plea to ban immersion of idols in water bodies

Ahmedabad: Gujarat High Court has rejected a PIL seeking directions to authorities to prevent people from immersing idols in water bodies during religious festivities so as to avoid water pollution.
The petitioner, Kalpesh Barot from Surat, however, had not mentioned any example of pollution and could not provide data in regards with the idols of Hindu gods and goddesses made of plaster of Paris (POP) are immersed in water body.


Since the PIL was lacking in information and proper pleadings, the court observed, “Whether an idol of POP causes pollution on immersion in a water body cannot be answered in this writ petition.” The court also noticed that no case was made out in public interest or to suggest that pollution is actually caused.
Refusing to interfere in this issue of pollution raised in the PIL, the judges observed, “It is seen that in puja of one or other god, generally idols are made of clay. Any idol made of POP is generally not immersed but kept as decorative piece.” However, the court asked the petitioner to bring specific instance, if any, to the notice of the Gujarat Pollution Control Board.