Mon Feb 03 15:52:57 UTC 2025: ## Madurai Court Orders Confiscation of Vehicles Used to Dump Medical Waste

**Madurai, Tamil Nadu, February 3, 2025** – The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court has issued a strong order mandating the confiscation of vehicles used to illegally transport and dump medical waste, primarily from Kerala, into Tamil Nadu. The court, taking a serious view of the ongoing issue, observed that the current practice of prosecution alone is insufficient to deter this dangerous practice.

Justice B. Pugalendhi directed the Tamil Nadu Chief Secretary and several other departments, including the Pollution Control Board and the DGP, to issue orders ensuring strict implementation of the Tamil Nadu Urban Local Bodies Act and Rules. The court emphasized that the mismanagement of biomedical waste is not just an environmental problem but a serious threat to public health.

The court noted that despite existing regulations, including the Bio-Medical Waste Management Rules which prohibit transporting untreated waste beyond 75 km and storing it for more than 48 hours, illegal transportation from neighboring states, particularly Kerala, continues. While acknowledging efforts to increase checkpoints, the court highlighted that no vehicles involved in these illegal activities had been confiscated to date.

The judge criticized the lack of action despite enabling provisions within the law, stating that even if vehicles are apprehended, the relevant authorities must be informed for confiscation. The order was passed while hearing petitions concerning the transportation and dumping of various types of waste, including biomedical and plastic waste. The court’s decision comes after the National Green Tribunal’s Southern Zone in Chennai also ordered Kerala to remove illegally dumped waste. The ruling aims to deter future incidents by imposing stricter penalties on those involved in the illegal disposal of medical waste.

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