Single-Use Plastic Ban: Rajasthan High Court Seeks Response Of Excise Department In PIL Over Tender For 36-Micron Plastic Liquor Labels

The Rajasthan High Court has issued notice to Rajasthan Government's Excise Department in a PIL filed against issuance of a tender for procurement of around 600 crore labels of non-collectible and non-recyclable plastic 36-micron.

A division bench of Acting Chief Justice Sanjeev Prakash Sharma and Justice Baljinder Singh Sandhu sought response of the department in the petition alleging that such conduct was in violation of the Rule 4(d) of the plastic Waste Management Rules 2016, that mandate a minimum plastic thickness of 50 microns.

The PIL contends that the State issued a notice inviting e-bids for the production and supply of Polyester based coloured Security holograms (excise adhesive labels) for the purpose of 600 crores labels of non-collectible and non-recyclable plastics applying on bottles and cans of liquors and beer, with a thickness of 36 microns.

It is contended that conduct was in clear violation of the standard thickness of 50 microns as prescribed under the 2016 Rules, as well as the law laid down in various decision of the Apex Court and NGT.

While terming the conduct as manipulative, arbitrary and unconstitutional, the PIL puts forth that if the State's actions are allowed to continue, it will generate pollution leading to adverse impact on the environment and ecology of Rajasthan.

“The Respondents have wilfully disregarded the national ban on Single Use Plastic (SUP) and have acted in open defiance of statutory directions issued by the Rajasthan State Pollution Control Board and the Environment Secretary, Government of Rajasthan, both of whom have categorically held that 36-micron specification to be legally impermissible," the plea said.

It has been alleged that the State was facilitating distribution of hundreds of crores of non-collectible plastic labels, which fragment into hazardous microplastics, and thus violating the precautionary principle, the polluter pays principles and the citizens' right under Article 21 to a clean environment.

The PIL further highlights that the identical plastic hologram tenders were already cancelled in some other states, thereby establishing a uniform national environmental standard which the State of Rajasthan alone chose to defy.

In this background, the Court issued notices to the State, through their counsels, seeking a briefing on why a hologram of 36 microns was demanded in their advertisement and not 50 microns or above.

The matter is listed on March 17, 2026.

Title: Abhinav Thapar v Union of India

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