The Uttarakhand High Court has established a dedicated email address that would be personally monitored by the High Court’s Registrar to enable residents to submit their concerns regarding issues arising out of solid waste management by authorities.

Chief Justice Vipin Sanghi and Justice RC Khulbe, sitting as a division bench, issued the order after observing that the State authorities are simply issuing “paper instructions” about the prohibition on non-biodegradable plastic. The Court subsequently ordered the Registrar (Judicial) to establish an email address for the public to use to submit complaints about solid waste that is collected but not removed in any area of the State, including within municipal boundaries and in rural or forested areas: solidwastecomplaint@uk.gov.in.

The bench further stated that it shall be the respective commissioners of the local civic authorities’ responsibility to see that the concerns are thereafter addressed. After the Registrar (Judicial) forwards the complaints, the commissioners must respond within two working days to let the public know what actions have been done in response. The bench further stated that the State must publicise the aforementioned email address widely in order to make individuals aware of it.

A public interest litigation (PIL) lawsuit demonstrating the negative environmental effects of non-biodegradable plastic led to the decision.