Why didn’t Centre ban disinfectant tunnels, wonders SC

Tribune News Service

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New Delhi, September 7

The Supreme Court on Monday wondered why the Centre didn’t ban the use of tunnels for disinfecting people for COVID-19 despite maintaining that spraying of chemical disinfectants was harmful.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta told a Bench headed by Justice Ashok Bhushan that spraying of chemical disinfectant was physically and psychologically harmful for humans.

External spraying of any chemical disinfectant does not kill a virus that has already entered the body of a person, who has earlier been exposed to the virus, the Centre told the court.

As the Bench wondered why the government didn’t ban disinfectant tunnels, if they were harmful, Mehta assured the court that appropriate directions will be issued in this regard.

He, however, said the Health Ministry had not issued any advisory or guidelines on use of ultraviolet lights for disinfection of humans for COVID-19 management.

The bench was hearing a PIL filed by one Gursimran Singh Narula, who has sought directions to the Centre to forthwith ban the installation, production and advertisement of disinfection tunnels involving spraying or fumigation of chemical disinfectants on humans.

The PIL demanded forthwith ban on spraying or fumigation of organic disinfectants and exposing human to ultraviolet rays for the purposes of disinfecting them.

The Centre said in its affidavit that as public health and hospitals are state subjects, it is for the States and Union Territories to implement the guidelines issued by the Health Ministry and the role of government of India is limited to providing necessary guidance and financial support.

It said on June 9, an expert committee meeting was held under the chairmanship of Director General of Health Service to review the use of disinfectant tunnels, various chemicals and spraying of disinfectant along with the efficacy of such use of spraying or fogging.

The Centre said the committee has reiterated that spraying of individuals with the disinfectants (such as tunnels, cabinets, cambers) is not recommended as it would not diminish the infected person’s ability to spread the virus through droplets or contact.

The affidavit said the committee further observed that spraying disinfectants is not recommended in both health-care and non-health care settings.