Team Goemkarponn
PANAJI: Patanjali Foods Limited has approached the High Court of Bombay at Goa questioning the State government’s proposed Deposit Refund Scheme (DRS) and has sought an interim stay on its implementation.
In its writ petition, the company has arrayed the State of Goa, the Department of Environment and Climate Change, the Goa Coastal and Environment Management Society, and the Law Department (Legal Affairs) as respondents.
The matter was placed before the Division Bench of Justice Valmiki Menezes and Justice Amit Jamsandekar for admission. During the hearing, counsel representing the petitioner urged the court to halt the rollout of the scheme.
However, the Bench declined to grant any interim relief at this preliminary stage and refrained from making any comments on the merits of the petition. The court directed the Registry to issue notices to all respondents and listed the case for further hearing in June.
The legal challenge comes against the backdrop of ongoing debate surrounding the Deposit Refund Scheme, which has drawn opposition from political parties as well as apprehensions from traders, distributors, and other stakeholders in the supply chain.
The State government had earlier announced a deferment of the scheme’s rollout by six months to one year, following widespread objections and demands for broader consultations. Authorities had also indicated that implementation would proceed only after engaging stakeholders and conducting awareness drives.
Meanwhile, discussions within the government are reportedly underway to significantly reduce the refundable deposit amounts proposed under the scheme, after concerns were raised about its impact on consumers and businesses.
As per the revised considerations, the deposit on non-alcoholic products may be lowered to between Rs 1 and Rs 2, compared to the earlier range of Rs 5 to Rs 10. For liquor-related products, the proposed deposit is expected to range from Rs 2 to Rs 10. Additionally, the agency responsible for collecting and processing DRS waste may be allowed to levy a handling fee of Rs 10 to Rs 12 per tonne on manufacturers.
The Deposit Refund Scheme is designed to encourage the return of non-biodegradable packaging by charging consumers an additional amount at the time of purchase, which is reimbursed upon returning the empty containers at designated collection centres. The scheme currently applies to items such as glass bottles, aluminium cans, and plastic bottles.
