Advocates urge Bombay High Court CJ to revoke single-use plastic ban on court campus

A letter has been addressed to the Chief Justice of the Bombay High Court urging for the revocation of the recent ban on single-use plastic bottles at the High Court premises and seeking a more phased implementation of such measures..The letter has been signed by around 150 advocates from the Bombay Bar. On July 24, 2024, a circular was issued to prohibit the possession of "single-use plastic bottles and bags" within the High Court, in a bid to reduce plastic waste. However, the signatories argue that the ban has led to significant difficulties for litigants, lawyers, and visitors, and may be inadvertently counterproductive.In their letter, the advocates pointed out that many individuals, including senior citizens and litigants who travel long distances, are being forced to discard their plastic bottles upon entering the court premises. “This rule, while undoubtedly well-intentioned, has caused significant hardship to litigants, lawyers, peons, clerks and other visitors to the premises, and may in fact be counterproductive,” the letter stated. .The advocates also highlighted that there has been no widespread publicizing of the plastic ban circular, with no clear notice on the High Court’s website or at its gates to inform visitors about the new restriction.Concern has further been raised about the lack of adequate alternate sources of safe drinking water within the court premises, with the ban on plastic water bottles. "Litigants, members of the bar and others who routinely come to the High Court often spend long hours on the premises, and would need ready access to affordable, reliable sources of drinking water," the letter noted. Although a few water filters are available, they are often outdoors, exposed to environmental contaminants such as bird droppings, and there is no information about the safety of the water provided.The letter further highlighted that the only bottled water available is sold in 300 ml glass bottles at the Bombay Bar Association, priced at ₹50 per bottle, which is out of reach for most visitors, "making it unaffordable for a majority of people.".Another issue highlighted is that the ban has led to an increase in plastic waste at the High Court. The confiscation of the water bottles at the High Court gates results in hundreds of such bottles being collected and thrown daily, ironically increasing the amount of plastic waste, even though the intention was to reduce it, the letter read. The signatories explained that many of the bottles being confiscated would have been reused multiple times before being disposed of.The letter further argued that a more effective approach would be to regulate the production and sale of single-use plastic, rather than prohibiting its possession.Therefore, the advocates have requested the Chief Justice to consider revoking the ban on single-use plastic bottles. They have also suggested the installation of more accessible and reliable sources of drinking water within the High Court premises. .[Read representation]