Supreme Court dismisses plea seeking tightened EMF radiation norms

The Supreme Court dismissed a PIL seeking the tightening of electro-magnetic field (EMF) radiation norms and setting up of an independent regulatory body to monitor and enforce them.

A bench of Justice H.L.Dattu and Justice C.K.Prasad rejected the plea, but indicated the court could intervene later if the standards do not meet the purpose.

“The standards (notified Sep 1, 2012) are much better than 90 countries. Even the constitution has had several amendments. We are sure that these standards will also be changed,” said Justice Dattu.

“We have got to give executive and legislature a free hand at the initial stage. Later if they fail we can step in the interest of the health of the citizens,” he said thereby apparently suggesting that this was not the end of the road.

The PIL had sought the enforcement of the existing radiation norms by an independent regulatory agency instead of self-regulation by the telecom service providers.

The PIL petition said that though the new EMF radiation standards have lowered radiation emission level but yet they still 500 and 1000 times higher than the exposer limit of 0.001 W/m2.

Prashant Bhushan, who appeared for the petitioner, NGO Centre for Public Interest Litigation (CPIL) said that all the scientific studies both nationally and internationally have established the serious problems being caused by the radiation. He was assisted by counsel Pyoli Swatija.

Bhushan told the court that all the cell phone towers were being indiscriminately put up in residential areas, hospitals schools and other places of human habitation. The PIL has urged the court to make environmental impact assessment mandatory prior to the installation of cell phone towers.

He told the court that the standards now being notified were lax and there was no independent authority to monitor and regulate them.

Giving the details of the health hazards being posed by the EMF Radiations, the PIL said that the international studies have established the hazardous effects of low frequency EMF radiation on human body and on nature.

The effects on human health, the PIL had said include childhood leukemia, brain tumours, breast cancer, miscarriage, infertility, DNA breakage, immune system deregulation, allergic and inflammatory responses, and cardiovascular effects.

The PIL further said that EMF radiation interference with other gadgets including pacemakers and neurological effects and neurodegenerative diseases such as headache, memory changes, dizziness, tremors, depressive symptoms, and sleep disturbance.

BY PTI