TAMIL NADU AND PUDUCHERRY PAPER CUP MANUFACTURERS ASSOCIATION vs THE STATE OF TAMIL NADU

The Supreme Court examined the validity of a Tamil Nadu government order banning the manufacture, storage, supply, transport, sale, and use of 'one time use and throwaway plastics,' issued under the Environment Protection Act, 1986. The appellants challenged the ban, which included various plastic items, and argued that it was arbitrary and beyond the scope of the enabling legislation. The Court upheld the government's authority to impose such restrictions in the interest of environmental protection, emphasizing the importance of sustainable practices. The judgment affirmed the ban's legality, dismissing the appeals and supporting environmental regulation under the EPA.