The Delhi High Court on Monday issued notices to the Union Government and others on a public interest litigation by an individual seeking temporary sealing of the Mayapuri scrap market in West Delhi where radioactive material was found last month causing panic in the Capital.
One person had died and several others suffered serious injuries following their exposure to radioactive material.Issuing the notices, a Division Bench of the Court comprising Justice Dipak Misra and Justice Madan B. Lokur asked the respondents to file replies to the petition by July 7, the next date of hearing.
The petitioner submitted that the market be sealed till it was thoroughly hand-searched for any radioactive substance or containers that might be packed with radioactive material. She further urged the Court to issue directions for installation of radiation scanners in all scrap markets in the Capital.
The finding of the radioactive material in the scarp market had raised serious doubts about regulation of their use, import and safe disposal, the petitioner said.
The petitioner alleged that the Union Ministry for Commerce and Industry had failed to ensure compliance of rules and regulations which make it incumbent on any person importing metal scrap to have a certificate from the country of origin stating that the said material is not hazardous and thus safe for import.
