The Bombay High Court on Wednesday directed Maharashtra government to probe the legality of a decision taken by the authorities to release water from Gangapur dam for 'shahi snan' (royal bath) at the Kumbh Mela in Nashik this year.

Giving the directions to the state's Chief Secretary, a division bench of Justices A S Oka and V L Achiliya said the decision to release one TMC (thousand million cubic) water from the dam was contrary to a policy of the government which categorises its priority list as regards supply of water.