New Delhi: The Supreme Court has issued notice to the center on a PIL, seeking an immediate ban on the use, installation, production or advertisement of disinfectant tunnels set up to curb the spread of COVID-19.
The bench of Justices Ashok Bhushan, R. Subhash Reddy and M.R. Shah issued notice to the Centre on the PIL filed by law student Gursimran Singh Narula.
The plea claims that the chemical disinfectants sprayed on humans in these disinfectant chambers and tunnels have an adverse impact on the person’s health.
The final year student from Rajiv Gandhi School of Intellectual Property Law, IIT Kharagpur, argued in person before the Supreme Court.
He argued about the bad effects of disinfectant chambers and tunnels, saying these disinfectants, that are said to prevent the spread of COVID-19, are in fact ineffective and expose people to harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays instead.
According to the petitioner, the Directorate General of Health Services (EMR Division), Ministry of Health & Family Welfare issued an advisory in April this year, against spraying of disinfectant on people for COVID-19 management.
The advisory stated that spraying of disinfectant on individuals or groups is not recommended under any circumstances and it can lead to irritation of eyes, skin and potentially gastrointestinal and psychological problems.
However, certain Indian medical institutions such as the Pune-based Council of Scientific & Industrial Research-National Chemical Laboratory and Mumbai-based Institute of Chemical Technology have cast doubts on the scientific value of the government advisory against spraying of disinfectants on human beings.
Therefore, the petitioner has sought the intervention of the Supreme Court in order to protect the right to life of people under Article 21 of the Constitution of India.
– India Legal Bureau