The High Court of Karnataka on Thursday said that it expects the State government and its authorities, with all seriousness, implement the government’s order of banning manufacture, distribution, and sale of idols made from Plaster of Paris (PoP) in accordance with the law.
A division bench comprising Chief Justice Vibhu Bakhru and Justice C.M. Joshi passed the order while disposing of a petition filed by the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB), which had sought a direction to the Urban Development Department (UDD) and other authorities of the State to implement the notification issued on September 15, 2023, banning PoP idols.
While declining to issue any specific direction on the issue of manufacture, distribution, sale, etc., of PoP idols, the bench said that it is not inclined to pass any order as the government notification issued in 2023 in this regard is in force and it is for the authorities to implement their own orders.
The KSPCB, in its petition, had said that despite the ban order, there are manufactures of PoP idols, and one in one such instance a PoP idol manufacturing unit, situated at Kumbalgodu near Kengeri, was sealed. However, despite this action, surreptitiously PoP idols in the sealed unit were being removed for sale.
However, the government counsel pointed out to the bench that a First Information Report (FIR) was registered in connection with the manufacture of PoP idols at Kumbalgodu unit and further actions are underway.
Published – August 14, 2025 07:39 pm IST
