High Court Considers Amending Laws for Imprisonment in Garbage Dumping Cases
In response to a suo motu case on the Brahmpauram fire incident, the High Court is exploring the possibility of amending existing laws to introduce imprisonment as a penalty for individuals who habitually dispose of garbage in public areas. The court is also considering assigning the responsibility to the police for apprehending those found littering. A division bench, comprising Justice Bechu Kurian Thomas and Justice P. Gopinath, raised these questions during the proceedings.
During the online session, Sharada Muralidharan, the principal secretary of the revenue department, stated that the government is contemplating amendments to enhance waste management. If the proposed amendments are not passed during the current legislative session, the government is considering the option of issuing an ordinance.
The court referred to a precedent in Sri Lanka, where the police were entrusted with the task of preventing littering in tourist areas. In response, the Principal Secretary mentioned the existence of a circular from the Director General of Police (DGP) regarding this matter. The case has been adjourned until October 6 for further consideration.
Additionally, the High Court expressed dissatisfaction with the National Highways Authority’s lack of response concerning the utilization of urban waste in road construction. The court also issued an order directing the establishment of collection booths for plastic bottles and delegated the responsibility of finding suitable locations for these booths to local authorities.
