Be sympathetic to animals, ban plastic bags: Supreme Court

New Delhi: The Supreme Court today asked state governments to be sympathetic towards animals by banning plastic bags which are consumed by stray cattle making them suffer.

A bench headed by Chief Justice H L Dattu slammed governments for their failure to ban use and manufacturing of plastic bags in their states saying that they should be concerned about the pain and sufferings of animals who consume these bags on streets.

It summoned Principle Secretary of Urban Development, Ministry of Karnataka for the failure of that government in curbing use of plastic bags and not having a proper waste disposal mechanism.

"Imagine the pain and suffering of animals. You sit in AC rooms and say that you have framed regulations. Is there any seriousness on the part of the state governments to implement the rules and laws? How much does it cost to print statute?," the bench observed.

"States must tell us how far they have succeeded in implementing the law. State must have some sympathy for animals," it said, adding that "it is a grim situation".

The bench also appointed a three-member committee of lawyers to visit different cities of Rajasthan to find out how much they have implemented the law to ban plastic bags in the state.

It said that the court would analyse the performances of other states also on this front and teams would be sent to other states also to find the real position.

The court was hearing a PIL filed by NGO Karuna Society for Animals and Nature seeking its direction to the Centre and states to ban usage of plastic bags in the country.

It also sought that a proper mechanism for disposal of used plastic bags must be put in place.