The Supreme Court yesterday stayed the operation of Gazette Notification on the Environmental Conservation Tax ECT in connection with the vehicles, cellular phones, bulbs and the telecommunication, radio and television transmission towers.

Chief Justice Sarath N. Silva PC observed that the Government should not undertake the burden of disposing of the used cellular phones. The Chief Justice noted that the Government should compel the mobile sellers to have a buy back scheme to dispose of used phones.

Justice Shiranee Thilakawardane observed that poor users should not be taxed for disposing of the e-waste such as used mobile phones and computers. She noted that it is responsibility of the manufacturers and sellers who earn billions.