Ban Or Regulate Use Of Disinfectants On Humans, SC Tells Centre

Pic Courtesy: The Times of India

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Thursday ordered the Centre to issue directions on “banning or regulating the use of disinfection tunnels spraying chemical or organic disinfectants on humans” within a month.

Noting that the government had issued advisory against spraying of disinfectant on human body, the court observed it has not taken further steps to prevent or regulate it.

A bench headed by Justice Ashok Bhushan and comprising of Justices R S Reddy and M R Shah said, “We are of the view that for spraying disinfectant on human body, fumigation or use of UV rays against the human body, there has to be regulatory regime when respondent No. 1 (Centre) itself is of the view that such use is not recommended.”

The top court added that the Centre “may consider and issue necessary directions in exercise of powers vested in it under the Disaster Management Act, 2005, regarding ban/regulation on the usage of disinfection tunnels involving spraying or fumigation of chemical/organic disinfectants for the human beings.”

The bench was hearing a petition seeking directions to immediately ban spraying of all kinds of disinfectants on humans.

The apex court said that if the usage of disinfectant on human body causes adverse effect on people’s health, “immediate remedial action” has to be taken by the authority  and it cannot shirk away just by saying such use is not recommended.