"God not a tool for rivalry": Madras High Court Raises Concern Over Last-Minute Festival Plans

The Madras High Court on August 26, 2025, issued a cautionary note on the increasing trend of last-minute applications for festival celebrations, stressing that religious devotion should not be turned into rivalry.

The bench of Justice B. Pugalendhi, delivering a common order on a batch of petitions seeking permission to install Vinayagar idols and conduct processions for publicly celebrate the Vinayagar Chathurthi festival, said that while the Constitution guarantees the freedom to worship, this right is not absolute and must coexist with the larger interests of public order and environmental protection.

The petitions before the court sought permission for installing Vinayagar idols, conducting processions, and organising immersions in different districts across Tamil Nadu. In several cases, the requests had either been denied by the authorities or kept pending, prompting the petitioners to approach the court.

The State, however, argued that most applications had been made at the eleventh hour, leaving little scope for the police and administration to make security or traffic arrangements.

Court observed that worship is a fundamental right under Article 25 of the Constitution but cautioned that this freedom cannot be interpreted as a license to disregard public peace or the environment.

“God is not a tool for rivalry,” the judge remarked, warning that in several localities, separate idol installations were being sought not out of devotion but to assert group dominance.

The bench noted that while Vinayagar Chaturthi has historically been celebrated with small community idols in street-corner temples, the practice has gradually expanded into elaborate public displays. This shift, it cautioned, should not descend into a contest of size and spectacle.

Court also placed emphasis on the environmental consequences of idol immersions. It noted that while traditional idols made of clay dissolved harmlessly in water, modern practices of using Plaster of Paris and chemical paints were causing severe damage to rivers, lakes and coastal waters. Such materials, the order said, release toxins into water bodies, killing fish, reducing oxygen levels, and contaminating the food chain. Citing guidelines of the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB), the court reiterated that only eco-friendly clay idols painted with non-toxic, water-soluble colours may be permitted.

Referring to past directions of the National Green Tribunal and earlier decisions of the High Court itself, the bench pointed out that idol immersions must only be carried out at designated points, and organisers are responsible for ensuring safe and compliant practices. The State Government’s G.O. No.598 of 2018, which regulates Vinayagar Chaturthi celebrations, was cited as binding, except for certain clauses struck down in earlier litigation. These rules mandate that applications must be filed at least a month in advance with no-objection certificates from landowners, local authorities, police, and fire services.

Justice Pugalendhi underlined that the purpose of these regulations is not to curtail faith but to prevent disorder.

He said that sudden petitions, often filed days before the festival, burden the system and create unnecessary tensions. Last-minute applications cannot be entertained when they involve public installations requiring coordination across multiple departments, court opined.

In conclusion, court examined each petition separately. In some petition court dismissed them and in some court asked the disposed of the petitions with directions to the authorities to process applications strictly in accordance with existing rules and environmental guidelines.

Case Title: S.Kumar vs The Commissioner of Police, Madurai District and connected matter

Order Date: August 26, 2025

Bench: Justice B Pugalendhi