Bombay HC declines to stay implementation of govt's decision of plastic ban

The Bombay High Court on Friday declined to stay the implementation of the Maharashtra government's decision to ban plastic materials, but protected citizens from prosecution for their possession for a period of three months.

The court, while giving an interim ruling on a bunch of petitions opposing the ban, maintained it cannot overlook the adverse impact of plastic waste on the environment.


On March 23 this year, the government issued a notification, imposing a ban on manufacture, use, sale, distribution and storage of all plastic materials like one- time use bags, spoons, plates, PET and PETE bottles and also thermacol items.

The notification gave a period of three months to the manufacturers, distributors and retailers to dispose of the existing stock of the banned items.

Consumers/users were, however, given only a period of one month to dispose the same.

Pune riots: CM orders probe, Sharad Pawar blames government

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Tuesday announced a probe by a Bombay High Court judge into the Pune riots which left one person dead and said the family of a young man killed in the violence will get Rs 1 million.

Fadnavis' move came after Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Sharad Pawar blamed the Maharashtra administration for lapses leading to Monday's riots and appealed for peace.

The disturbances erupted in the village of Koregaon-Bhima on January 1 during the 200th-anniversary celebrations of the Anglo-Maratha War between the Army of Peshwa Bajirao II with a small force of East India Company that comprised a large number of Dalits.

"Why did the administration not take adequate precautions for this event which has been celebrated peacefully for 200 years? Due to its lapses, there was confusion and rumour-mongering, resulting in the violence," the NCP President said.

Defending the government, Fadnavis said there was adequate police deployment with six companies of security forces deployed in the entire region in anticipation of the huge crowds for the annual celebrations.

"However, it seems there were some organisations who wanted riots to break out. There was stone pelting, violence and arson but the police exercised great restraint to prevent the situation from going out of control. By late night, the police ensured that all the stranded people were put in buses safely to reach their destinations," Fadnavis told the media on Tuesday.