In a public interest litigation filed regarding the dumping of biomedical waste by the Government and private hospitals in Uttarakhand, the High Court has sought replies from the parties involved in a period of four weeks. According to the case details, Nainital resident Karan Arya had filed a PIl in the High Court of Uttarakhand, stating that the private and Government hospitals in Uttarakhand are violating the Biomedical Waste Management Rules 2016.
The petitioner has stated that instead of being disposed of properly, waste from hospitals is being dumped in the open. Since all hospitals do not have necessary waste disposal facility, the medical waste from hospitals is being dumped in public places, along the national highway, in open places and in the garbage containers of municipal bodies.
While this creates the threat of environmental contamination, it also poses a threat to the public health.
The petitioner has reportedly also requested the court that the provision of the Biomedical Waste Management Rules 2016 should be implemented. The chief secretary should also be asked to present before the high court, the provisions related to the disposal of biomedical waste, the petitioner further sought.
Hearing on the petition, the High Court division bench of Chief Justice KM Joseph and justice UC Dhyani has directed that replies be submitted in four weeks by the central pollution control board, Uttarakhand chief secretary, principal secretary, health, secretaries of urban development and health, director general of health, all District Magistrates and Chief Medical Officers.