The Kerala High Court on Friday (June 12) orally remarked that it is likely to visit the new bio-mining plant at Brahmapuram on June 26.

The Special Bench of Justice Bechu Kurian Thomas and Justice Gopinath P. today orally said:

"Tentatively, we think that 26th of June is an ideal date because it is a non-sitting day for the High Court. It's a working day for everyone. It's a non-sitting day for us. We have tentatively decided 26th. To visit Brahmapuram. We'll put it in the order."

In November last year, the Bench had criticised the Cochin Corporation regarding the delay in the removal of legacy waste and opening of the new plant at Brahmapuram.

The Bench, specially constituted to monitor the waste management in the State, was hearing a suo motu petition initiated in the aftermath of the Brahmapuram fire, along with connected matters.

In the hearing today, the Court orally requested that the Secretary of the Local Self Government Department can virtually join in the hearing to come up with solutions:

"We had very excellent cooperation from the last Secretary. They used to get things done. They were very proactive also. So, they must be online and join as and when this case is listed."

The Bench also questioned whether private agencies engaged for waste collection is properly disposing of the same. It indicate to the government pleader that a list of agencies involved in the collection, transportation and processing of waste in the State might be needed.

"We would like you to give us a list of private agencies involved in handling of waste like sanitary waste, medical waste…private agencies who are working with the local bodies and other organisations...for removing medical waste, etc. We would like to have a list of agencies that are involved in collection, transport and processing of waste. We would also like to have a list of facilities that they have, across the State. So that we would know how they are carrying on with this...All of us pay money for these services but we don't know whether the processing is happening properly...Just because we are entrusting to an agency like or something, we cannot conclude that it is being done properly…We have no idea whether this is ultimately resulting in proper handling of, proper disposal of all kinds of waste," Justice Gopinath orally said.

Justice Bechu added: "They might be digging a hole and putting everything under or dumping it in the water out of State."

He then turned to the standing counsel for the Indian Railways and said, "You have engaged some private persons to collect, transport and dispose of the waste. An audit may be required at a later point of time. Are you actually checking? At some point in time when the amici curiae went and visited Trivandrum, they found at Kochuveli, entire plastic from Vande Bharat being dumped over there."

In the earlier proceedings also, the Bench had questioned the Railways regarding its waste management system.

Today, Justice Bechu orally said that the Railways, being a bulk waste generator, has legal obligations that had to be complied with:

"Railways, we had declared, in one of our orders that you are one of the bulk waste generators. As a bulk waste generator, there is a lot of legal obligations that you are bound to abide by. We are certain that you are not complied with any one of them. The waste that you generate…Whatever you said that day, from the instructions that you received, I think that day itself we could identify that it was all expression of desire, nothing concrete…Even in Cochin, you are in Ernakulam. I don't think you have entered into an arrangement with local authorities to collect the waste…you said you identified few stations."

Justice Gopinath also orally opined that proactive steps must be taken for introducing biodegradable packaging in the food provided in the trains:

"IRCTC or whoever is giving this contract for food. Their packing must change. You travel here in Vande Bharat to Kannur. You get a tray of very nice food. All small, small packets of biscuits. Everything is in small, small plastic packets. And where is all this waste going? This is something that you can control. Because IRCTC must be one of the biggest food…so if you insist, 100% manufacturers will have to comply. Because you are one of the biggest customers. Imagine the amount of waste that is generated once it goes from here to Bangalore and back."

The Court also inquired whether its orders in the previous hearing was complied with. It had directed the removal of waste from the areas on either side of Kochi-Panavel Highway from the B.O.T Bridge to Alexander Parambithara Bridge as well as that under the Railway over bridge on Anamthuruthichira Road near Kochu Kadavanthara area.

"We had issued certain directions last time. You have said that you have complied with it…Again, we issued some directions but the issue remains the same. I think what you do is that you put up that green net and the public just pull that down and throw waste. All these cases, we have noticed. I think you must have something permanent like a, permanent in the sense, maybe some walls put and screen so that people don't pull it down. Now they just put it across and tie it on either side. In the middle, it will be handing down...Net is loose and people throw it over the net. Sad thing is that there is a board. Corporation Board saying not to dump waste here."

The case will be taken up on July 10 (Friday) next.

Case No: WP(C) 7844/2023

Case Title: Suo Motu v. State of Kerala

Click to Read/Download Interim Order dated 27.03.2026