Big Set Back to Kerala Govt: HC Sets Aside Government’s Order to Ban Plastic Carry Bags

Kerala High Court on Tuesday quashed the order of the Kerala Government which had banned plastic carry bags weighing less than 60 grams per square metre (GSM).

A single bench of Justice N Nagaresh in its order said that the Kerala government does not have the authority to take such an action. The court was hearing batch of petitions seeking to set aside the order of Kerala Government.

From January 1, 2020, a ban on plastic came into effect in Kerala. Kerala goverment ban was applicable to 11 types of plastic such as plastic carry bags (regardless of thickness), plastic sheets (table spread), thermocol, styrofoam plates, cups, decorations, single-use plastic cups, plates, spoons, forks, straws, dishes, stirrer, plastic-coated paper cups, plates, paper bowls, coated paper bags, non-woven bags, plastic flags, plastic bunting, plastic drinking pouches, and non-branded plastic juice packets. The ban was also applicable to pet bottles, plastic garbage bags, PVC flux products and plastic packets.