Endosulfan: SC allows activists to file intervention application

Mangalore, July 21: The Supreme Court has allowed Navdanya, a recognised premier network of organic farmers headed by Dr Vandana Shiva and human rights activist and environmentalist Dr Ravindranath Shanbhag to file an intervention application in the case filed by Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI) seeking a country-wide permanent ban on Endosulfan.

According to a press release, the apex court on May 13 had banned the production, sale and use of pesticide Endosulfan in the country, holding that human life is more important than anything else. It then had appointed joint committee to submit its interim report on endosulfan within two months. In the application, both Vandana Shiva and Dr Ravindranath Shanbhag cited that their concern for the life and health of a large section of people who are directly affected with the use of the life threatening pesticide Endosulfan had compelled them to file an intervention application.

The application highlighting the deformities in poor people exposed to hazardous chemical pesticide attached pictures of victims suffering from life – threatening diseases like congenital abnormality to neurological problems.

The copies of report, in the application, submitted by KMC to ICMR in 2003 revealed that Endosulfan altered genes in humans.

Copies on the study of Aminosalicylic Acid reversing Endosulfan – induced Testicular Toxicity in male rats and National Institute of Occupational Health's (Indian Council of Medical Research) report on the unusual illness in Kasargod district submitted to National Human Rights Commission in July 2002 were attached with the application.

Copies of 40 journals highlighting the disastrous effects of the use of Endosulfan compiled by D Ravindranath Shanbhag was also attached with the voluminous application.

The applicants were forced to approach Court to secure Fundamental Right of lakhs of helpless citizens as the Government was not taking any steps to ban use of Endosulfan.

Every Citizen has a Fundamental Right to live a quality life of dignity and good health.

Poison free food is a necessity and our Fundamental Right and is included under article 21 as Right to Life, they stressed in the application.

The application with Supreme Court besides praying for a country-wide ban on the use and sale of Endosulfan in any form urged the court to set up a Committee to medically examine pregnant women in Kerala and Karnataka states for physical and mental abnormalities.

The report should be submitted to the court, the applicants said.