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Synopsis

The Bombay High Court has recently permitted the use of flowers and garlands at the Shree Saibaba Sanstha in Shirdi after their three-year suspension due to COVID-19 restrictions. 

A division bench of the High Court comprising Justice Mangesh Patil and Justice Shailesh Brahme was hearing an application filed by the ad hoc committee and flower vendors. 

The committee approached the high court seeking approval of its resolution allowing the use of flowers and garlands, while the vendors sought permission to sell them inside the temple premises. 

Advocate Anil Bajaj, representing the Sanstha, argued that it had been decided to purchase flowers directly from farmers through a credit cooperative society run by the Sanstha's employees. These flowers would then be sold within the temple premises at reasonable rates. 

Advocate PS Talekar, appearing for one of the intervenors, submitted that his client had been a victim of extortion by street vendors who forced him to buy flowers and garlands at exorbitant rates. He further stated that this issue of overpricing was recognized even by the board in office in 2017.

However, the bench while permiting the use of flowers and garlands at the temple noted that “Since nothing has been mentioned in the resolution as to the manner in which it would be disposed of and being a perishable one requiring regular and prompt disposal, it would be appropriate that permission is granted to the Sansthan/trust for resuming offering of flowers/garlands as resolved by Resolution No.277, and calling upon the ad hoc committee to take appropriate decision at the earliest regarding the manner in which it decides to dispose of the waste to be generated by virtue of offering of the flowers/garlands,” the order reads.

Case title: Shri Saibaba Sansthan Shirdi vs The State of Maharashtra