Samsung, LG sue Indian government over electronic-waste pricing policy

South Korea's LG and Samsung have sued India's government to quash a policy which increases payouts to electronic-waste recyclers, court filings show, joining other major companies in contesting the country's environmental rules citing business impact.

The lawsuits, set to be heard on Tuesday with other challenges, mark an escalation of a standoff involving foreign companies' and Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government over its stance towards waste management practices.

LG and Samsung did not respond to Reuters' requests for comment. India's Environment Ministry also did not respond.

India is the third-biggest e-waste generator behind China and the U.S., but the government says only 43% of the country's e-waste last year was recycled and at least 80% of the sector comprises informal scrap dealers.

Daikin, India's Havells and Tata's Voltas have already sued Modi's administration.

Samsung and LG had lobbied against a decision to fix a floor price payable to recyclers, which New Delhi says is needed to get more formal players into the sector and boost investment in e-waste recycling.