SC Asks Centre To Ban Disinfection Tunnels, UV Rays On Humans

The Supreme Court on Thursday asked the Central Government to ban the use of disinfection tunnels, ultraviolet rays and fumigation sprays on humans as part of the campaign against the Coronavirus. The top court was hearing a public interest petition filed by final-year law student Gursimran Singh Narula who has sought a ban on the use, promotion and installation of sanitisation tunnels for spraying humans.

While there is no information about how many such tunnels have been installed in the country this year to curb the spread of the Coronavirus, the Centre in September informed the Court that the use of disinfection tunnels was not ‘recommended’ and it is ‘clinically and psychologically harmful for humans’.

The apex court, while hearing the case, asked the centre, why it had not issued orders to ban the use of such tunnels if ‘its usage was not recommended’. The solicitor General Tushar Mehta had informed the Court that ‘appropriate guidelines’ would be issued at the earliest.

The Court while asking the Centre to issue necessary orders to ban the use of disinfection tunnels, also asked the government to do the needful within a month and not wait till the last hour.

The petitioner had cited the World Health Organisation and other scientific bodies which have warned about the use and ineffectiveness of disinfectant tunnels. The petitioner also informed the Court that the use of the disinfection tunnel leads to a ‘false belief’ among people who after passing through the tunnel may believe themselves to be immune from contracting the coronavirus.