The Bombay High Court has stated that there was no potential for banning plastic flowers under 100 microns, aligning with existing bans on similar plastic products.
A division bench led by Chief Justice DK Upadhyaya and Justice Amit Borkar sought responses from the Union and Maharashtra governments in response to a petition by the Growers Flowers Council of India seeking such a ban.
The court also issued notices to the Central Pollution Control Board and Maharashtra Pollution Control Board, emphasizing the environmental impact of these decorations. The GFCI highlighted that plastic flowers, often as thin as 30 microns, pose ecological risks.
“With bans on sub-100-micron plastics already in place, prohibiting plastic flowers should be a logical step,” the court remarked, stressing the urgency of the matter. Chief Justice Upadhyaya underscored the importance, citing instances where vulnerable children have mistakenly ingested plastics.
All parties must file affidavits within four weeks, with the court set to hear the case in August. The plea urges specific prohibitory orders for plastic flowers, extending existing regulatory measures to address environmental concerns comprehensively.
