The Supreme Court dismissed two Special Leave Petitions that challenged the Bombay High Court’s interim orders allowing the use of PoP idols and their immersion in artificial ponds during festivals. The Court directed the petitioners to pursue the matter in the High Court, where the CPCB guidelines on idol immersion are already under judicial review.
Key Developments
- Bombay High Court’s interim order (9 June 2025) lifted the ban on using PoP for idol making but required prior permission for immersion in natural water bodies.
- On 24 July 2025, the High Court extended the Idol Immersion Policy till March 2026 and raised the permissible idol height from five to six feet, mandating immersion in artificial ponds for taller idols.
- The petitioners argued that the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 makes the 2020 CPCB guidelines mandatory.
- The Supreme Court, noting that the CPCB guidelines are already sub‑judice before the High Court, dismissed the SLPs and allowed the petitioners to assist in the pending proceedings.
Important Facts
The 2020 CPCB Guidelines were issued under Section 16 of the Water Act and have been upheld by the NGT, several High Courts and the Supreme Court as binding. The High Court’s interim order, however, treated these guidelines as advisory, prompting the current litigation.
UPSC Relevance
This case illustrates the interplay between environmental regulation, judicial review, and federal‑state policy coordination—core topics for GS III (Environment) and GS II (Polity). Aspirants should note how statutory guidelines acquire the force of law, the role of the CPCB, and the jurisdictional hierarchy when a matter is sub‑judice in a lower court. The decision also underscores the importance of sustainable festival practices, a recurring theme in the environment and culture sections of the UPSC syllabus.
Way Forward
Petitioners must now engage with the Bombay High Court to contest the High Court’s interpretation of the CPCB guidelines. Potential outcomes include a reaffirmation of the guidelines as binding, prompting stricter enforcement of artificial‑pond immersion, or a modification of the Policy to align with environmental norms. Monitoring these developments will be crucial for understanding future regulatory approaches to pollution control during mass cultural events.