Goondas Act to tackle dumping of bio-medical waste in TN villages

CHENNAI: In a stringent warning against the dumping of medical waste in Tamil Nadu from neighbouring states, Law Minister S Regupathy tabled an amendment Bill on the floor of the Assembly to invoke the Goondas Act against such offenders.

Bio-medical waste offenders, according to the amendment Bill of the Tamil Nadu Prevention of Detention Act 1982, would be booked under the Goondas Act. The government has taken this measure following a plethora of complaints about the dumping of such waste in border villages along the Tamil Nadu–Kerala border.

The amendment to the Tamil Nadu Prevention of Dangerous Activities of Bootleggers, Cyber Law Offenders, Drug Offenders, Forest Offenders, Goondas, Immoral Traffic Offenders, Sand Offenders, Sexual Offenders, Slum Grabbers and Video Pirates Act, 1982 introduces "bio-medical waste offenders" and "economic offenders" to the list. This sends a loud and clear message to those involved in dumping bio-medical waste from neighbouring states in border villages, posing serious risks to public health and the environment and also economic offenders, whose activities adversely affect the maintenance of public order.

This stringent move is a response to frequent complaints about the dumping of bio-medical waste in Tamil Nadu from neighbouring states. The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court, in its order dated November 15, 2023, observed that it was the right time to book violators of the Bio-Medical Waste Management Rules, 2016 under the Tamil Nadu Act 14 of 1982, paving the way for the amendment, according to the statement of objects and reasons.

During the introduction stage of the Bill, legislators T Velmurugan and Thalavai Sundaram requested that the Bill be taken up for discussion, expressing their intention to propose certain modifications.

The Statement of Objects and Reasons (SoOR) of the Bill to amend the Goondas Act said that improper disposal of bio-medical waste poses grave risks to public health and the environment. There are frequent complaints about the dumping of such waste in Tamil Nadu from the neighbouring states.

In view of the repeal of the IPC and the CrPc by the Centre and the enactment of BNS and the BNSS, certain consequential amendments are required to be made in the Goondas Act, the government said.

Chief Minister MK Stalin had also announced that persons indulging in economic offences would be detained under the Goondas Act and accordingly, that Act would be amended suitably.

All the Bills are expected to be passed on or before April 29, 2025.