SC directions sought to restrain cellular companies

New Delhi, May 10 (UNI) The Supreme Court today issued notices to the Union Government and Department of Telecommunications Assistant Director on a PIL seeking directions to restrain cellular companies from installing communication towers, antennae, hubs and masts without prior permission of the competent authorities in view of the health hazards posed by them.

A division bench, comprising Chief Justice Y K Sabharwal, Justice C K Thakker and Justice R V Raveendran, issued the notices after hearing Sushil Tekriwal, counsel for petitioner Karma Jyot Seva Trust of Gujarat, who contended that Electro-Magnetic Radiations emitted by communication towers cause serious damage to the health of its users.

The counsel also pleaded that these radiations may cause serious diseases such as cancer, tumors, childhood leukemia and breast cancer.

The petitioner also alleged that private service providers, instead of installing these towers in commercial areas, where they have to pay tax, install these towers in residential areas to save thetax.

The petition also contended that unchecked and unfettered grant of permission to erect these towers in sensitive areas and on school and hospital buildings violate the precautionary principles which are an integral part of law governing such installations. The threat is of serious and irreversible damage, and lack of scientific certainty should not be an excuse for postponing measures to prevent environmental degradation. Service providers are guided and dominated by commercial considerations and have no concern for public health. The Radio Frequency Radiation pollution affects mostly children and people with weak resistance immunity system.

UNI/AKS/SC RL RS1844