No one has the right to pollute a waterbody even in the name of religion, says HC

The Madras High Court has ruled that religious rituals cannot justify the pollution of the Thamirabarani river. The court emphasized that environmental protection is a fundamental duty and that public health takes precedence over religious practices.
Why it matters
It highlights the ongoing legal tension between cultural/religious traditions and environmental conservation in India.
No one has the right to pollute a waterbody even in the name of religion, the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court said while taking a serious view of the pollution of Thamirabarani river in the guise of performing rituals for the departed.
The article reports on a court order neutrally, balancing the court's respect for religious sentiment with its firm stance on environmental law.
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