Bombay High Court to examine validity of plastic ban proposed in Maharashtra

The Bombay High Court will on March 6 examine the validity of the direction issued by the state government to different authorities to ban the manufacture, distribution, storage and sale of plastic/thermocol items.

A division bench of Justice Abhay Oka and Justice P N Deshmukh asked the government to file an affidavit stating its final decision taken on the public notice, issued on January 2.

Advocate R A Salunke, who appeared for the government, submitted a draft notification on the ban and said that the final order will be issued in a month's time after the cabinet approval. Suggestion and objections from the public will also be called for, he said.

The notice has been challenged by the Maharashtra Plastic Manufacturers Association, terming it arbitrary. It has contended that the state doesn't have the power and jurisdiction to direct different authorities established under different acts to include certain conditions. 

Citing the impact of plastic bags on the environment, State Environment Minister Ramdas Kadam had earlier talked about banning them from Gudi Padwa, which will be observed next month. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has promised a complete ban on plastic in six months with alternatives being put in place.