Bombay HC Asks Whether Any Hindu Scripture Mandates Immersion Of PoP Idols In Natural Water Bodies

Mumbai's Bombay High Court questioned on Tuesday whether any Hindu religious scripture mandates the immersion of Plaster of Paris (PoP) idols in water bodies, during a hearing of a petition seeking guidelines to curb pollution caused by such idols. The bench of Justices Ajey Gadkari and Kamal Khata asked for evidence showing that Hindu scriptures required PoP idols to be immersed in water.

The court is hearing petitions supporting the 2020 Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) guidelines that impose a ban on immersing PoP idols in natural water bodies and challenge the Maharashtra government's August 1, 2025, guidelines allowing larger idols (over six feet) to be immersed in natural water bodies and smaller ones in artificial ponds.

Senior advocate S.M. Gorwadkar, representing PoP idol-makers, suggested the practice of symbolic immersion, where devotees would touch the idol's feet to water and civic authorities could collect and recycle the idols. Gorwadkar argued that this proposal aimed to prevent pollution and protect the environment under Article 51A(g) of the Constitution.

The idol-makers had challenged the ban on PoP idol immersion, but Gorwadkar noted that the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) had clarified that the guidelines were only advisory. Gorwadkar emphasized the need to prevent the use of toxic substances and chemical paints in idols, which contribute significantly to water pollution.

According to Gorwadkar, idol-making is a minor contributor to PoP waste, which also originates from construction and medical sectors, much of which ends up in landfills. However, the Akhil Sarvajanik Utsav Samiti Maharashtra, representing Ganesh mandals, opposed the symbolic immersion proposal, arguing that Dharma Shastra does not permit symbolic visarjan (immersion).

When asked to provide a scripture supporting PoP idol immersion, the Ganesh mandals' lawyer suggested that Hindu scriptures were written around 3,000 years ago, before the existence of PoP, and idols were still immersed. The court will resume hearing arguments in the matter on Wednesday.