Mobile tower radiations: SC dismisses plea for regulatory body

The Supreme court on Thursday dismissed a plea for setting up an independent body for regulating the radiation arising out of mobile phone towers saying that the issue was already being looked into by the government.

The court said it can only step in if authorities fail to address the issue raised in the PIL.

A bench of Justices HL Dattu and Justice CK Prasad said the petition cannot be entertained "at this stage", as more information was required on implementation of the telecom department's directives.

The bench said it didn't want to interfere in the issue of setting up an independent body to regulate radiation as the government has already set up such a committee.

However, advocate Prashant Bhushan appearing for the NGO, Centre for Public interest litigation, said there was a need for a body from outside the government.

Declining his plea, the bench said, "You have to give the executive and legislature a free hand at the initial stages. Later if they fail we can step in."

The court was hearing the PIL seeking direction for the government to ban installation of cell phone towers in highly populated areas, protected natural areas and spaces where endangered species live as well as make environment impact assessments mandatory.

The petition submitted that there have been several health concerns from mobile tower radiation and some state governments have also made it illegal to have the towers in thickly populated areas.

Bhushan said radiation from mobile phone towers in India is much higher than the international standards and that radiation causes several diseases, including cancer.