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Synopsis

Taking cognizance over the issue of littering in hilly areas, Madras High Court has recently suggested the Tamil Nadu State Marketing Corporation Limited to introduce a scheme to buy-back liquor bottles.

A division bench of Justice SN Sathish Kumar and Justice D Bhartha Chakravarthy has thus directed the state's liquor sale governing body to introduce a liquor bottles buy-back scheme.

Court was hearing a suo moto public interest litigation initiated by it to regulate bottle littering and considered the status report filed by TASMAC that 63% of the bottles sold have been recovered through the scheme.

Furthermore, the bench directed that the scheme should be implemented throughout the state for controlling environmental damage. 

TASMAC also informed the bench that the scheme has been implemented in other areas near National and Wildlife parks.

In its status report, TASMAC also informed the bench that 29 lakh bottles have been sold since the implementation of the scheme, out of which 18 lakh bottles have been returned.

High Court thus went on to direct the authorities to also issue circulars directing the license holders and bars to return the bottles.

Case Title: G. Subramania Koushik vs. The Principal Secretary and others