HIGH COURT OF DELHI : NEW DELHI + Writ Petition (Civil) No. 882 of 2009 & CM 368412009 Judgment reserved on: May 2I.2009 Judgment delivered on: July 14.2009 1. IWs Rainbow Polymers Through Shri Jagjit Singh S/o Shri Gurbax Singh aged about 36 years, having its office at F-79, Purvi Marg, New Delhi-110020. 2.' IWs Veeran Plastic Industries Through Shri R.K. Puri S/o Shri S.R. Puri aged about 63 years having its office at t3 2, P r abhavi Ap artment Plot No.29B, Sector-10 Dwarka, New Delhi- 1 I 0075. 3. IWs Narendra Plastic Ltd. Through Shri Shelley Arora S/o Shri S.D. Arora aged about 46 years having its office at 42, Navjeevan Vihar - New Delhi-l10017. 4. IWs New Sales Corporation Through Shri Vivek Chopra S/o Late Shri B.R. Chopra aged about 50 years having its office at INl06, Rang Rasayan Apt. Sector-l3, Rohini New Delhi-110085. WP (C) No.8B2/2009 Page I of 5 ( 'f ,rt r Digitally Signed By:AMULYA Certify that the digital file and physical file have been compared and the digital data is as per the physical file and no page is missing. Signature Not Verified 5. IWs A.P. Polyplast Pvt. Ltd. Through Shri Ajay Kumar S/o Late Shd K. Chand aged about 47 years having its office at B-1/50, Ashok Vihar-II Delhi-l10052. 6. lzl/s H.K. Plastic Industries Through Shri H.N. Singh S/o Late Shri Shiv Dayal aged about 72 years having its office at J-90, Kirti Nagar Nevy Delhi-110015. 7. IWs Nayut Enterprises Through Shri Piyush Sachdeva S/o Shri Rakesh Sachdeva having its office at GB-13, Shivaji Enclave Nqw Delhi. 8. Juneja Sales Through Shri Manoj Juneja S/o Shri O.P. Juneja Aged about years having its office at D1-B/188, Janakpuri, New Delhi. 9. Allied Polybags Pvt. Ltd. Through Shri Mohinder Kohli S/o Late Shri R.L. Kohli Aged about years having its office at R-540, New Rajinder Nagar, New Delhi. 10. Polypack Enterprises Through Shri Ajay Jain S/o Late Shri P.C. Jain Aged about years having its office at C-161, Preeti Vihar, New Delhi-l10092. WP (C) No.882/2009 s \ l-- ( Page 2 of 5 \ 11. K.K. Industries Through Shri Anil Dutta S/o Shri Dutta Aged about years having its office at C-26, New Krishna Park Vikaspuri, New Delhi. 12. Avon Plastic Through Shri Katawaro S/o Shri Athalal Aged about years having its office at 53, Surya Cly, Gali No. 10 ana. o-, 1- Faridabad' Haryr IJ. Sachdeva Enterprises Through Shri Neraj Sahdeva Aged about years having its office at E-380, G.K..II New Delhi-l1048. 14. Alpine Plastic Through Shri Satish Kaura S/o Shri B.D. Kaura Aged about years having its office at G-40, F.F. East of Kailash New Delhi. 15. Mangalam Packaging Through Shri Kamal Sharma S/o Shri G.L. Sharma "r. ..- , Aged about years having its offrce at 71169, Ramesh Nagar, New Delhi. 16. Bhagwati Polymers Through Shri A. Malhotra S/o Late Shi S.K. Malhotra Aged about years having its office at C-93, Okhla Ind. Area-I New Delhi- 1 10020. WP (C) No.882/2009 Page 3 of 5 $ v 17. Allied Plast Through Shri S.K. Gaba S/o Shri V.B. Gaba Aged about years having its office at C-25, Sriniwaspuri New Delhi-110065. ...Petitioners Through Mr. Sandeep Sethi, Sr. Advocate with Mr. Sidharth Singhal and Mr. Nikhil Bhalla. Advocates Versus f Government of NCT of Delhi Departm.ent of Forests & Wildlife 2no Floor, 'A' Block, Vikas Bhawan New Delhi. -l- >^ tv ...Respondent Through Mr. Parag P. Tripathi, ASG with Ms. Ruchi Sindhwani, Ms. Akanksha Sharma and Mr. Amey Nargolkar, Advocates Mr. Arvind Sah, Advocate for the Intervenor in CM 368412009 Yes Not necessary Not necessary Page 4 of 5 Coram: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE MADAN B. LOKT]R HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE A.K. PATHAK 1. Whether the Reporters of local papers may be allowed to see the judgment? 2. To be referred to Reporter or not? 3. Whether the judgment should be reported in the Digest? WP (C) No.882/2009 v MADAN B. LOKUR. J. For orders, please see Writ Petition (Civil) No.883 of 2009 (A11 India Plastic Industries Association & Others v. Government of NCT of Delhi). {t^J MADAN B. LOKUR, J t* July 14,2009 ncg Certified that the corrected copy of the judgment has been transmitted in the main Server. .'q- , {'6 \ tv"?'"o'l "0 WP (C) No.882/2009 N*"t+- A.K. PATHAK, J Page 5 of 5 lllcll COLlItT Olt Dlll,lll : NliW Dlrll,lll Writ Pctition (Civil) No. llll3 ol'2009 & CNt 4355120119 .fudgnrcnt roscrvccl rln: N4ay2l-2Q0-2 Juclgmcnt clclivclccl on: July 14.2009 1. All India Plastic lrrdustrios Association through its Sccrctary Shri Ajay Gupta S/o Slrri 'lt.N. (iupta Agcd about 40 ycars having its llcad Ofircc at 203, I lansa'l'orvcr' 25, Ocntral Malkct Ashok Vihat', I'hasc-I I)clhi '- I 10 052 Mr. llhupcsh l{alli Agcd about 37 ycars S/o Slrri J.P. Italli (iupta Plastic Inc[istrics 36, Sanclcsh Vihar Pitarnpura, Dolhi Mr. I{adhcy Shyam (iL4rta Agcd about 64 ycars S/o lal.c Shri O.P. (iupta (iupta Plastic lndLrstrics 36, Sanclcsh Vihar Pitaurpura, I)clhi . ...|)ctitioncrs Mr. Sandccp Scthi, Sr. Advocatc rvith Mr. Sidharth Singhal ancl Mr. Niklril Jlhalla. Adr,ocatcs 'J'lrrough Vcrstrs WP (C) No.883/2009 Ituge I ol'37 l\r t + 0//tl 2. 3. -,t (iovornurcnt oi' NC f ol' I)clhi I)cpartrncnt of liorcsts & Wildlitb 2"" Floor, 'A' Illock, Vikas Jlhawatr Ncu, Dclhi ...llcsp.uclc't 1 (^ \\) Corarn: IION'I}I,Ii MR. JI]STICI' MAI)AN I}. I,OKI.JII IION'I}1,II MI{. .ITJSTICI' A.K. PATIIAK 1. Whcthcr the ltcpctrtcls of local papot's lnay bc allowcd ttl scc thc judgmcnt'i 2. 'lo bc rcfcrrcd to l{cportcr or ttot'/ 3. Wticthcr thc judglncnt shoulcl bc lcportccl . in thc l)igcst'/ M 'fhrotrgh Mr. Parag l). 'l'ripathi, AS(i u'ith Ms. I{rrchi Sinclltrvani, Ms. Akauksha . Sharura aud Mr. Arncy Nargtllkar, Aclvocatcs Mr. Arvind Salr, Advocatc ltll tho lntcrvcnor in CM 435512009 Ycs Yos Ycs 'I'hrcc clncstions arisc lor our cotisiclcration in this casc. l;irstly, on thc prclirninary slrbtnissiou ol- tho loarllod Additional Solicitor Gcncral whotlicr thc writ potition lilcd by thc I'}otitioncrs shoglcl at all bc cntcrlaincd in vicw of thc principlos analogotts to thc principlos of rr:s judicata or crlnstructivc rcs jutlicutn sinco thc issttcs WP (C) No.883/2009 I'uge 2 of'37 raisocl in this cilsc iu'c similar to thc issucs raisccl itr au carlicr writ pctition. In our opinion, this rvrit pctil.ion otrght not l"tt bc cntct'tirinctl fbr thc rcason cnnvassccl by thc lcarucd Additional Solicitor (ioncral. Adclitionally, in this casc wo irrc callcd npon to collatorally dcciclc thc corrcctncss of thc dccision takon irr thc cat'licr writ pcti{"ion, whiclr is uot ncrnrissiblc on thc facts and in thc circumstauccs narratocl hcrcin bclorv. 'l-hc sccclnd clucstion f or considoration is u'hcthcr thc prinoiplcs ol' natural justicc cnshrincd in ltule 4 ol'thc Ijtrvirclntnotrt (|rotcction) Itulcs, 1986 havc bccn aclhorccl kl by thc L{cspondcnts lvhilc issr.ring thc impugnocl n<ltification clatccl Tttt Jatrltary, 2009. ln orll 6pitriotr, thc answcr to this is in thc afflnnativo, silrcc thc spirit ol'thc law ancl thc prclccclnrc has bccn followccl, thortgh not uccossarily thc rcstrictivc lcttcr of thc law. No prcjudicc has boou cetttscd to tho Pctitioncrs in this rcspcct. I'hc thircl qucstion is whcthcr ott tncrits, tl'rc impugncd notilication datod 7'l' January,2009 is invalicl in law. Ottr answct'ttl this clucstiorr is in thc ttcgativc. I'hc hackground lacts Onc Mr. Vinod Krrnar.lain filocl a Ptrblic Itrtcrcst l,itigittion WP (q No.883/2009 I'uge 3 ol 37 lb, -4" (Pll,) in this Court pairrling a grirn pictr.rc of thc lailurc by thc civic l^ agcncics in Dclhi to cflbctivoly managc solicl watstc.' On" o['thc issttos L / raisccl by Mr. .Jarin c<lnccrncd thc lrlanargcltlcnt ol'plastic wustc, whir:h according to him romains in thc cnviroumcrrt as it is ttotr-bioclcgraclablc. It is saicl. to cntcr tlic food chain rcsulting in hoalth risks. 'l'hc disposal of plastic wastc in strcaurs, oanals, watcr boclics ctc. ctlnrpouttcls tho problcrn causcd to thc cnvironmcnt. 2. Appatcntly, with a vicw to assisL thc (lourt in issuing appropriatc diroctions, thc l)ivision lJcnoh hcaring thc Pll, ctlrrstitutcd a Comnrittcc hcadccl by Justicc I{.C. Chopra, a rctit'cd judgc of tlris Court as its Oonvcncr, with thc Chairman of thc Ccnttal l'}olh.rtion (]ontrol Iloard and thc Chairrnan oI thc l)clhi Polluti<ln Control Conrmittcc as its Mcmbcrs. Scvcn qucstions worc posocl lor thc cousidcratiou of'thc Committcc ancl thc Rcport given by it in rcspcct of cach clucstion is as lbllows: Qucstion: Whcthcr plastic bags arc pcr-sc in.iurious ttl hcalth tlr h:rzardous to thc cnvironmcnt? Itoport: Virgin plastic bags arc nclt pcl sc injurious to hcalth ol I Vinorl Kurnar Jairr v. lJnion of Tntlia & ols. Wl'](C) No. 6.t56l04 tlccitled on 7"' r\rrgrrst, 2.008. WP (C) No.8<\3/2009 I'uge 4 o.l'37 1 hazarclous to thc cnvironmcnt but rccyclcd/colourcd bags alc irtjr.rrioLrs. 'I'hcrclorc, a blankct bati on tho usc of plastic lrags is not c;allccl lilr'. Qucstion: Whcthcr dcgradablc/biodcgradablc plastic bags arc an altcrnative and can bc introduccd lvithout any dilliculty? I{oport: I}i<ldcgradablc plastics atc in its nasccnt stagc and rcscarclt lvork is on lor tlic clcvclopurcnt of appropriatc typcs oL bitlclcgl'adablo plastics. It canuot bc said that dcgraclablc plastics clo nclt posc ally lrcaltlr or cnvironmcntal hazard. l.hcsc do not clccotrrposo rrattrrally ou account of action of micro-organism. ISioclogradablc plastics howcvcr, arc rnaclc ol natr"rral substiurccs ancl clccotlposc through rnicrobial actiort. 'l'hcrclilrc, bioclcgradablc plastics shoulcl trc cncortragccl for thc manufacturc ancl usc of plastic bags. Qucstion: Whethcr bags madc oI othcr mirtcrials can substitutc plastic bags and mcct thc dcmand? Itoport: 'l'hc usc ol- plastic bags camot bc withdrawn tlr ltanttccl cornplctcly in Dclhi but othcr alternal.ivcs can trc cncout'agccl ancl plopagatcd which may rcsult in rochrcing thc dctnancl/Lrsc of plastic bags. 'l'hc chrios ancl problcm crcatcd by thc uso o['plastic bags is prirnalily bccalrsc oJ' rvnstc gcnoratccl by plastic bags u,hich trcccls cl'ficicnt hanclling by thc auLlroritics as wcll as by thc Plasl"ic Manulacturcrs' WP (Q No.BB3/2009 Pugc 5 ol'37 tv Assooiatiou. Qucstion: What arc thc cxisting laws to rcgulatc thc usc ol'plastic bags in l)clhi? Il.oport: 'l-hc Dclhi I)cgraclablc Plastic Ilag (Manltfitctttrc, Salc ancl tJsagc) and Garbagc (Control) Act, 2000 rcacl rvith thc l)lastic Manr.rfactircr, Salc ancl lJsagc ltulcs, lggg, as aurcndocl Jrom timc to tirnc, ploviclcs that virgin or t'ecycled plastic lrags shoulcl bc of'a tlrickncss not lcss tlian 20 microns and oL a sizc uot loss thittr tJ" x 12". 'l'hc thickncss of plastic bags shor.rld bc incrcascd to 40 microns. J"ho cxisting ban on use of plastic bags in sonro institutions suclt as itr lor.rrlfivo star hotols, hospitals with 100 bcds or n'roro, rostaurants witlr a scating ol'morc thari'100 cto. is not ollcctivcly'onfotcccl. Sincc tlic ban in thcsc institutions takcs carc of'a snrall porccntagc oL plastic bags, tltc rnaxirmun consumption thcrcof bcing tlrrotrgh rnain nrarkcts, local shopping ccntrcs, small shopkccpcrs and stroct vcndots, thc ban shoulcl bc cxtondccl to thcm also. Qucstion: Whcthcr rccycling o1'the plastic bags wastc is a hcalth/ environmcnthazard? Itcport: lJnsouncl rccycling practiccs pcrtaining to plastics alc a sclious hcalth / cnvironmcntal hazarcl ancl thosc rvho violaLc thc provisiorrs <ll- WP (C) No.(9<93/2009 l'uge 6 ql' j7 1 law in this rcgard shoulcl bc dcalt with vcry strictly. Qucstion: What arc the maior hcalth or cnvil'on,".ntnl haz'ards arising rtut of thc use of plastic bags? Ilcport: l'hc usc only of vilgin plastio bags rvhich arc trausluccttt ancl ol' nrlrc thzur 40 microns thiokncss sh<luld bc cnc<luragcd and this sh<lrrld takc carc oJ. most of thc hcalth hazards particularly sinco thcsc ckl uot contain any hannful aclditivcs ancl can bc casily idsntified by rag pickcrs for rocycling purposcs. Qucstion: what stcps can bc takcn to chcck thc hcalLh and cnvironmcnt ltaznrds arising out ol usc of plastic bags in Dclhi? Itoport: Thc Committcc gavc as rnany as twolvc l'ccolttltlcndatious, but it is not ncccssaly to rcproclnco all oi thotu ior thc pLllposcs ol' this clccision. 3. Sufficc it to sirY, thc l)ivision llcrrch hcaring thc I']ll. gcrrcrally acccptccl thc rccommcnclations of thc Comntittcc ancl issucd thc iollorving dircctions in its llnal orclcr ciatcd 7tl'Augrtst, 200[l: "i) 'I'hc rcspondcnts (]ovcrnrlrcnt of NC'l' o1'l)clhi shall issuc a propor notifioation hxing tho rnininlrm thickttcss ol plastic bags at 40 microns in placc oI 20 urictons crtrrontly stipulatcd. ii) I'hc rcsponclcnts, (iovorntncnt oI J)clhi, tltc [)ollrrtion WP (C) Nrt.883/2009 l'uga 7 ol'37 ry I ' .t- "t\ Control Cotnmittcc of l)clhi ancl thc civic agoncics shall titl<c ,o\ irnnrcdiatc stcps lbr closurc o[' unliccuscd rccycling trnits ?l opcrating frotn non-conlbrrning arcas by Llsillg ttustlttucl V ' ,/ mcthocls for rccycling of plastig bags. / iii) Govornmcnt of India shall cxpcditc thc constitr.rtion of l"hc comrnittcc tbr vcrifying protoools lclr cloglatlatrlc attcl bioclcgradablc plastiqs in lndia il' thc satuc has uot alrcady bccn donc. iv) (]ovcmnrcnt of NC'I' ol. Dclhi shall issr.rc an appropriatc notification folbidcling r"rsc of' plastic bags in thc tlrititr rnatkcts and local shopping cclttrcs apart Licltn hotcls, hospitals and malls whcrc rtsc of stroh trags is alrcady I'olbiddcn. v) Thc othcr rccomrncndations rolcrrcd to in thc rcport urado by thc Cornrnittcc appointcd by this Oor.rrt ancl cxtractccl abovc shall bc cxatnincd by thc (iovcmmcnt oi NC'[ oI J)clhi as arlso thc civio agcncics and appropriatc aotions takcn in arcoordance with law whorcver sltclt rccotntlctrclatiolls aro frlr"rnd I'casiblc." ( 4. Subscqncrit kl thc clccision rcnclctccl by tliis Ctlurt, thc Dclhi (iovcrnmcnt issucd aclvcrtiscmcnts iu ncwspapcrs discttltraging thc usc oi plastic bags aud a list Of "t'ttust clo" by collsulllcrs, Lctailcrs, manufactrtrcrs, rccyclcrs, aitpot'ts, malls, tailways, Lasl. [tlocl ccntrcs ctc. lrollowing up on this publicity blitz, tho Dclhi (iovcrntncnt isstrccl a notification datccl 7'l' January,2009 whcrciu it was nontionod in clatrso (2) thctcclf that thc uso, sarlc and storagc of all kinds ol'plastic bags is Jorbiddon scvoral gcnorally idcntifiod placcs in tho National Oapital t|/P (C) No.883/2009 I'uge 8 o./' j7 ln ,'lt I'crritory of Dclhi. In clausc (3) of tho notification, it 'uvas laicl tlorvn that in placcs othcr than thosc covcrccl by clausc (2), only bioclcgradablc plastic bags r:ould bc uscd. Thc notilicatiotr alstl oonfbrrcd jurisdictitln cln scvoral officials to cnforcc its tcrurs. 5. 'Ihc notification clatocl 7'r' January,2009 rcacls as jilllorvs: ..NO'I'IFI(]A'I-ION l)atcd 7tr' .lanuarv. 2009 In cxcroisc of thc powcrs cotrlbn'cd by Scction 5 of'tho Ilnvironmcnt (Protcction) Act, l9tl6 rcad rvith notilication No.U-l 1030/J/9I-UTI,, datcd l0-9-l 992'and in compliartcc . of thc IIorr'blc IIigh Court of I)clhi's orclcr datcd 7"'Attgttst, 200U in WP(C) No.6456 ot2004, tho Licutcnarnt (iovcruor ol' National Capital 'fcffitory oI Dclhi horctry tlitccts thc followinri: ,."rn^t. thc usc, salc ancl storagc of all kincls o{'plastic bags shall bc forbiddcn in rcspcot of thc lollowing placcs in thc National Capital l'crritory of I)clhi, uatncly:- Irivc Star aucl liour Star Ilotcls. ilospitgls with 100 ol' lnorc bocls oxccpt for tho Lrso oI plastic bags its prcsoritrccl rtuclor Jlio Mcdical Wastc (Managctucnt and llandling) Itulcs, l99tt. (c) All rcstatu'atits and cating plaocs having soating capacity oImorc than 50 scats. (d) All li'uit and vcgctablc outlcts of Mothor Dairy. (c) All liquor vcnds. WI' (C) No.883/2009 l'ugc 9 of'37 (a) (b) I h9 - ). (D All shopping Malls. (g) All shops iu tnaiu uratkcts and looal shopping ocnt[cs. 0t) All rctail ancl r.vholcsalc orrtlcts ol lJranclccl chailt of outlcts sclling diflcrcnt constlulcr prodtrcts incluciing fnrits ancl vcgctablcs. 3. In placc othcr tltau thc alorosaid placcs ancl as obscrvcd by the lTon'trlc tligh Court of f)clhi only llio- dcgraclablc plastic bags shall bc usccl. 'l-he f'ollowing oflicels shall itlrplcrnotrt tlrcsc ordcls itr thcir rcspcctivc jLrrisdiction nntncly:- 1. Mctnbcl Scctctary, I)clhi l)ollution Oontrol Corlmittoc and its stai[. 2. J)ircotol J'lnvir<lnmont, aucl stall oL Jinviroutncttt T)cpt. (iovt. of- Dclhi. ' 3. Additional Divisional Magistratcs in thcir rcspcctivc clistriot. 4. Sub-Divisional Magistratcs in thcir rcspcctivc ' juriscliction. 5. Ilnvironmcntal Iinginccrs, Dclhi Pollution Oontrol (lotmnittcc in thoir rcspcctivc jurisdicti<ln. (t. Asstt. Cotnmissioltct' (ltl,), Municiltal Corporation of I)clhi. l. Fo<ld and Supply Ollicors, in thcir rcspcctivc jtu'isdiction. 8. Mcdical Officor llcalth, NJ)MC. 9. Dircctol I loalth Sorvicos, (lovotntnont of National Callital'l'crritory oI l)clhi. 10. Municipal llcalth Olliccr, MCI). 1 1. Iiclocl lnspcctors o1 I'liA l)opat'tntcltt, (]ovcrruur:nt of National Capital 'l'crritory of Dclhi. WP (q No.883/2009 l'jugc l0 o.l'37 -l- 4. Mcurbcr Sccrctary, l)clhi Polltrtion Oontrol Cotumittco sl'rall aot as thc ctl-orclinator tO itnplctlcnt thc abovc clrclors. Thc Chainnan aucl Mcmbcr Sccrctary of tho. I)clhi Pollution (lontrol Cotnmittcc arc attthorizccl to lodgc thc complaiut undor Scotion 19 tlf' thc litlvirouulcnt (I'rotcction) Act, 19t16 viclc notificatiotr No.S.O.394(ll) datcd 16-4-1981 as lirrthcr atnonclod vidc notilication No.S.O.624(li) datcd 3-9- I 996. 5. This is in slqrcrscssion oI thc (iovcmurcnt of I)cllri's carlicr notifi cation no.F. 8 ([l 6)/l']A/llnv . I 200 5 (i1) I 486, clatccl thc 2ntt Jutrc, 2005 atrd notifjcatiorr No.F. 8 (8(r)/liA/Iil,./ 200 5 I 450, datccl tlt c 2 5'r' May, 200 (r' 6. l'his notilication shall comc itrto fcx'oc u'ith cff cct Iklrn thc clay it is notilicd in thc OUioial (iazottc. Ily Ordcr arxl in thc Namc oI thc Lt. (iovcrnor of thc National Capital 'l'orritory ol'I)clhi, sd/- (Suslima Jcrath) J)y. Sccy. No.F. 0 ti (ti 6)/liA/linv . 12008 I 9 47 3 Issucd by: Govcrnmcnt of thc National Capital 'I.'cr-ritory of J)clhi Dcpaflmcnt of l}rvironmcnt ancl liorcst and Wild l.ifb N-owlglbi." 6. A pcnrsal of thc notilication rcvcals that it ltas lrcctt issuocl in cxcrcisc of powcrs conJbrrcd by Scction 5 oJ' thc llnvirorrtlctrt (protcction) Act, t9ti6 (for short thc liPA) rcacl u,ith a (iovortrtncttt o1' lnclia notification (on whioh thcrc is no clisputc) ancl in cotnltliaucc with WI'(C) No.883/2009 l'ugc I I o/'37 ?q ;. I thc orclcrs oI this Court in thc Pll, initiatcd bv Mr. .lain. I'hc subrnissions: 1. Pctitioncr No.l claiming to bc an all Inclia associatiou oL ruanufacturors of plastic bags and othcr plastic prodLrots lrlcd a writ pctition in this Court along with Pctitionors No.2 ancl 3. I'ctitioncr Ntt. I clairns to rcprcscrrt tnorc than 1,500 rcgistcrcd mctnbct's on al1 all Inclia basis. Pctitioners No. 2 and 3 arc said to bc manuJircturcrs/st<lrors/Ltscrs scllcrs oL plastio products. 'l'hcsc Pctitiouors havc challcngccl thc rrol.ification clatccl 7tl'Jernuar-y,2009 bocnusc, it is sr.rbrtrittod [hat thc notilication has put thcrl undcr- gtcat har:clship and thcir busirtoss ltas coulc to a total standstill. According to thc l.)ctitioncrs, a total batt ou thc usc of plastics is an arbitrary mcasurc and is trot a rcasonatrlc rcstriction oithcr unclcr tho provisions of Artiolc l4 or Articlc l9(l)(g) 'or Artir:lc 301 ol tho Constitution. tl. 'l'hcrc is rio clisputc that thc powor to iisuc tho notificatiorr is availablc with thc I{csponclcnts undcr Soctiorr 5 <ll- thc liI'A but lcarttccl counscl Ibr thc Pctitionols sr.rbmittcd that this powor ltas to bc cxorciscd in accorclancc with tlrc linvironrncnt ([)rotccl"ion) l{trlcs, l9tl6 (lor short l4/P (C) No.B.93/2009 l'uge l2 oJ'37 { { t n thc IiPl{). ln this contcxt, it was sr-rbmittccl that thc l{cs1>ondcnts havoCJql o" not followccl thc ruanclatory proccclurc prcscritrccl rtttclor tlrc IIPII ancl, / thcrcloro. thc notification is not vaUd. 'Ihc sccortcl sr.tburissitlrl oJ' lcarnccl oounscl u,as that tho Pctitioncrs havo no cliflrcrrlty rvitlr cliroctitlu No. (i), (ii), (iii) ancl (v) abovc br.rt insohr as clit'cctiol No. (iv) is conccrncd, it has bccn issucd by thc carlict' Division Ilcncli on a l.actttal misconccption.. Iior undcrstanding this coutcution oJ'lcatrtrocl coltnscl, direction No. (iv) is ortcc again lcptodttocd: "iv) (iovcrntncnt of NC'f of Dclhi shall issuc an appt'opriatc notification I'orbidding use o{' plastio bags in the tlaitr lnalkcts and local shopping ccntrcs apart ltonl hotcls, hospitals and malls lvltcrc usc ol' such bags is alrcady lbrbiddcn." (cuphasis sLrppliccl). 9. Accorcling kl lcarnccl counscl lbr thc Pctitiorrcts, tltc ttsc o[ plastio bags in hotcls, hospitals arnd malls is not filrbiddcn. What is frlrbicldon in thcsc placcs is thc nsc of tton-dcgradatrlc plastic bags. lt is slbmittccl that thc conclusicln of this Colrrt that "wltcrc ttsc ol'strch bags is alrcacly klrbiddon" is partially inaccuratc what is forbicldcn is tlro r.rsc oI'uon-dogradablc plastic bags and not all plastic bags. llt sttpport of this asscrtion, rcliancc is placcd upon tr.vo notilicatiotrs clatccl 2"'l Junc, 2005 ancl 25'r' May, 200(t issucd by thc (iovcrtrttrcnt ol' Dclhi WI' (C) No.8,93/2009 I'ugt: I 3 ol'37 whicli plovidc that thc usc of dcgraclablc lllastic lrags shall bc compulsory in thc following institulions. ln othor worcls, thc r"tsc tlf notr- dcgraclablc plastic bags is forbiddcn in thcsc plttccs, that is fl (a) (b) (c) (d) (") (D Lll 415 star hotcls catcgorizcd as suoh by thc Dcpartnlcnt oL 'fourism, (iovcrnurcut of ludia, All hospitals having bcd strcngth of 100 bccls or morc, All rcstaurants hewing seatirig capacity of'tlotc than 50 scats, All food and vcgctablc outlcts of Mothcr I)airy, All liquor vcnds, and Al1 slropping rnalls. It r.vzrs sr.rbmittcd that sincc thc lligh Court proccoclod <ln a t0 - partialty irrcorroct assumption that all plastio bags (both dcgraclablc ancl lon-clcgraclablc) arc lolbiddcn in thcsc institlrtions, thcrclorc, clirccting cxtcnsi<ln <lL thc ban t6 othcr institr.rtions/aroas ol'l)clhi is orroncorts. il. I-hc lcatrrcct Aclclitional Solicitor' (icncral appcaring on bohalf of thc ltospondcnts rcfutcd thc various subrnissious tnadc by lcarnccl counscl lbr thc Pctitioncrs. Ilc also raisccl a prcliminary objoctitln to tho offcct thitt thc Pctitioncrs wcrc fully rcprcscntccl in thc Pll. tlclorc this CoLrrt (tl:r'ough otrc Mr. O.P. t{atra). 'I'hoy ciutttot uorv bc pcrmittotl kl WP (Q No.883/2009 l'uge l4 ol'37 challcngo (hc notifioation clatccl 7"' January, 2009 rvhich r.vzts isst"tccl in coinpliance with thc dircotions givcn by this (lotrrl" in tlrc J'.11.. lt is appropriato to first dcal with thc prcliminary objcctitln raisccl by thc lcarncd Aclclitional Solicitor (icncral. Prcliminarry submission of thc llcspondcnts: 12. Wc find from tho rccorcl of tlio Pil, that otrc Mr. O.l'. ltatra hacl movccl an intcrvcntion application in tho ['11,. A pcrtrsal o{ that application rcvcals that Mr. I{atra clairus to havc bccu cngagcd in thc clcvclopmcnt and promotion of applications oL plastics sitrco l9(r5. IIt: says that ho has sclvccl in various dcpartmcnts of thc (iovorntnont of India as 'wcll as in various tcchnical committoos oto. Ilc citcs his various acootltplishrncnts and concludcs his application by submitting that plastio bags alc tcclrnically and cnvirontncntally saf-c ancl tlral- hc is painccl t<l noticc that unjustifiablc publicity is givon against plastic bags in complcto variaucc rvith thc provisiotts <lf thc law. .j 13. Wc also find from thc rcoorcl oi thc PI[, that allcr this Oourt rcnclcrcd its docision, Mr. I{atra lilcd a rcvicw application in thc writ pctition in which hc dcscribcd himsclf as a fouudcr tncurbor of Plastics Wt' (C) No.883/2009 Pqe I 5 o.l'37 fr, Chintak. t4. .'I'hc lcarncd Additional Solicitor (lorroral sLrbnrittccl bcfilrc Lrs that his instruc;ting connscl madc a soarch ou thc itttcrnct to dotcrrniuc thc idcntity of Plastics Chintak. As a rcsult of l"hat scaroh, sonlc tnatcrial was collcctccl and that has bccn placcd on rccorcl. Iirotn thcsc documonts, it has coll'lo to bc knowtr that Mr. I{atra is tho Sccrctary o[' I)lastios Ohintak, which is a lirnun of' All lnclia l)lastio Inclusl.t'ics Assor:iation and All lnclia Iicdcration of I'lastic lndustrics. I)lastics Chintak is intcndcd to crcatc awarcncss that plastics arc ouvironnrcutally safc and eco-fiienclly, that plastic bags atc osscntial ancl an integral patl. of our daily lifc and plastics cannot bc baruccl cornplctcly rvithout providing chcap ancl acccptablc altcrnativcs. 15. It mav trc notccl that onc oi thc two cotrstitucnts of f'lastics Cliintak is All India I']lastic Industrics Associatiou, rvhioh is l)ctitionot No.l in tlic writ pctition tliat wc arc oouoomccl with. 'fhc addrcss ol' Plastics Chintak as displr.rycd on thc intcmct is r:/o All lnclia Plastir: Industrics Association, 203, Ilansa Towcr, 25, Cctrttitl Markct, Aslrol< Vihar, Phasc-I, Dclhi and this is thc saulc ils tho addrcss of'Pctitioncr Wl) (C) No.883/2009 l'ugc l6 ol 37 n 4 No.l. 'fhc subrnission of lcamccl Aclclitional Solicitor (icncral in this rcgarcl rvas that although thc Pctitioncrs in thc casc lrclilrc us rnay nol havc dircctly bccn partics in thc I'11,, but thcy wcrc cortainly rcprcscutcd, or at lcast thoir point of vicw was cot-tainly pLrt ltlrth by Mr. I{atra, rvlro patticipatccl in thc irrocccclings bclorc tlrc Justicc Ohopra (lonrnrittcc, intcrvcncd in thc PIL and also filcd a rcvicw pctitiou in this C'ourt. It was, thorclbrc, subrnittcd that it is too latc in thc day lor tltc Potitioners to contcnd that thcy woro ttot hcard bclilrc thc abovcmcntionccl dircctiorrs wcrc isstrcd