The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court has directed that single-use plastics listed under the Tamil Nadu government’s notified ban must not be used during temple festivals.
The order came while hearing a petition filed by Raja Karuppannan of Tiruchirappalli, who sought directions to conduct the Vaikasi chariot festival at the Sedal Mariamman Temple in Beemanagar. The petitioner had approached the HR&CE Commissioner, Joint Commissioner and the temple’s executive officer seeking the festival to be held.
The temple side told the court that recurring disputes arise between devotees and those claiming rights related to “mandagapadi”, making it difficult for the executive officer to conduct the festival. The petitioner’s counsel submitted that the executive officer could conduct the festival without granting any special privileges, and that the petitioner had no objection.
Justice D. Bharatha Chakravarthy noted concerns over littering and solid waste generated during festivals, and observed that public health risks are often ignored, with some villages seeing disease outbreaks after such events. Taking note of the petitioner’s stand, the court permitted the festival subject to conditions, including that it be conducted collectively without caste or religious discrimination, temporary garbage bins be placed if the festival is held, and that banned single-use plastics not be used inside the temple premises or during processions.
