Jammu and Kashmir [Images] high court has directed the state government to expedite the process of enacting a legislation to ban the sale and use of polythene bags.

A division Bench of the court comprising Chief Justice B A Khan and Justice B A Kirmani gave orders to this effect on Tuesday and also asked the municipal authorities to take steps under the powers vested in them to control the menace.

The court also directed the authorities to submit their plan of action and mechanism for implementing the ban.

The division bench directed the government to bring the proposed legislation after inviting suggestions from experts.

In case suggestions or recommendations are submitted, the same should be considered before finalising the bill, the court said.

Medical superintendents of government hospitals and managements of all private hospitals were directed to submit their action plans on similar lines.

The court also told the director of State Health Services, Srinagar [Images] Municipal Corporation and the Lakes and Waterways Development Authority to seek compliance report from the managements of private hospitals and directed them to appear before the court on the next day of hearing along with their status report on the issue.

Perusing the status reports submitted by different authorities, the court observed that no concrete and specific action plan has either been adopted or indicated by the government to constitute permanent mechanism for enforcing the ban.