'No Real Action' Taken On Plastic Ban: Meghalaya High Court Orders State To Prevent Clandestine Manufacture Of Single Use Plastic
Noting that no "real action" had been taken by the state government to ensure removal of plastic products from the market, the Meghalaya High Court on Wednesday (May 14) issued a slew of directions on preventing clandestine manufacture of plastic "which is less than 120 microns width". The Court was hearing a PIL regarding seeking a complete ban on single-use plastic (SUP) in the State...
Noting that no "real action" had been taken by the state government to ensure removal of plastic products from the market, the Meghalaya High Court on Wednesday (May 14) issued a slew of directions on preventing clandestine manufacture of plastic "which is less than 120 microns width".
The Court was hearing a PIL regarding seeking a complete ban on single-use plastic (SUP) in the State of Meghalaya.
The division bench of the Chief Justice I. P. Mukerji and Justice W. Diengdoh in its order issued a slew of directions regarding the prevention of clandestine manufacture of plastic of less than 120 microns width.
The Court directed as follows:
- Continue to carry out awareness camps indicating the adverse effects of plastic;
- Informing and convincing the people by public announcement, through advertisement, billboards, wall writing, other media that the use of plastic is detrimental to personal health, environment and the ecological system;
- Give reasonable time to persons who have already procured and have possession of plastic less than 120 microns to return the items to the seller or to dispose of them hygienically;
- Plastic of less than 120 microns width should not be permitted to be manufactured in the State. The State should take all steps to prevent its clandestine manufacture and subject to (c) above identify and inspect places where they are in frequent use, seize them and deal with the offenders appropriately. For this purpose, administrative orders may be issued.
It further observed:
“Plastic waste cannot be easily recycled or safely destroyed. It causes waste management problems as because of its long natural life it chokes waterbodies and the drainage system resulting in accumulation of garbage in public places,” the Court noted.
The Additional Advocate General appearing for the State filed a report dated March 11, 2025 in terms of the Court's earlier order.
After perusal of the report, the Court noted that action has been taken only in a major portion of East Khasi Hills District and hardly any in the remaining eleven districts of the State. It was further observed by the Court that in most of the places only awareness camps have been held and members of the public have been made aware of the illegality in the use of plastic of 120 microns or more.
“We did not find that any real action has been taken to ensure removal of this description of plastic products from the market. Positive and effective steps for removal of these items from the market would be the first step towards having a society without plastic and with its replacement by an equivalent substitute available at an equivalent price,” the Court said.
The Court asked the State to collect all the reports from the Deputy Commissioners and file a report before it by June 20.
The PIL has been again listed on June 25.
Case Title: Phuyosa Yobin v. State of Meghlaya & Anr.
Case No.: PIL No.7/2024