High Court directs strict enforcement of single-use plastic ban

KOCHI: The High Court has directed that the ban on single-use plastic products must be strictly enforced. Justice Viju Abraham dismissed petitions challenging the government’s circular issued on November 27, 2019, which prohibited the use of single-use plastics. The court also considered petitions demanding stricter implementation of the ban.

The court made it clear that authorities are obligated to strictly implement the state government’s order banning single-use plastics and the related central rules. The Kerala Paper Cup Manufacturers’ Association was among those who had challenged the government’s ban.

The government argued that a similar ban had already been upheld by the Supreme Court in a case filed by the Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry Paper Cup Manufacturers’ Association. The central government also informed the court that the Ministry of Environment and Forests had framed rules banning single-use plastics in 2021. Based on these facts, the single bench dismissed the petitions challenging the government order.