LAWS(HPH)-2013-1-39

SANJEEV KUMAR Vs. STATE

Decided On January 10, 2013
SANJEEV KUMAR Appellant
V/S
STATE Respondents

JUDGEMENT

(1.) IN these petitions this Court is concerned with the indiscriminate use of plastic polythene which are totally non -biodegradable for the purpose of packaging. The petitioners have raised important issues in these petitions with regard to the use of plastic and other non -biodegradable material used for packaging of essential items. A balance has to be struck between the economy and need to provide essential items to the poor at minimal cost and also the need to prevent degradation of the environment.

(2.) AT the initial stage we were only concerned with mustard oil, which was supplied by the H.P. State Civil Supplies Corporation Ltd. and packed in plastic bottles and polythene bags. We had then constituted a Committee headed by Mrs. Sarojini Ganju Thakur, the then Additional Chief Secretary to the State of Himachal Pradesh who also was heading the department of Environment Science and Technology, who vide our order dated 19.6.2010 was asked to go into the following aspects amongst other things:

(3.) WE must record our appreciation for the fact that both the Corporation and the State have shown a positive attitude in the matter and have always accepted what was possible to be done to reduce the use of plastic in the State. In fact, on the suggestion of the Court the H.P. Tourism Development Corporation had set up some water purifiers on the Mall Road, Ridge, etc. in Shimla from which pure water was dispensed. However, we have been told that these machines are no longer operational and in fact have been removed. By the next date, the H.P. Tourism Development Corporation as well as the State shall file a reply in this regard.