Srinagar: The Jammu and Kashmir High Court has sought a report from cellular operators by December 22 as to whether relevant safety measures with regard to cell towers which exist in the residential areas and are fixed on the residential buildings are being strictly followed in the state’s winter capital.
Hearing a Public Interest Litigation, a division bench headed by Chief Justice Badar Durrez Ahmed also asked JMC to “give a complete report with regard to the number of Cell Towers which exist in the residential areas and are fixed on the residential buildings.”
“Counsel representing the Cell Operators shall file a status report, clearly indicating as to whether the relevant safety measures as stipulated by the Department of Telecommunication and Telecom Regulatory Authority of India or any other requirements, which the Government has placed for safety measures, are being followed in letter and spirit in Jammu or not,” the division bench, also comprising Sanjeev Kumar, said. The PIL has been filed by a law student, Navyug Sethi, seeking shifting of mobile towers from the residential areas
Senior Advocate Sunil Sethi, representing the petitioner, submitted that 525 mobile towers have been installed prior to the guidelines and are causing “serious health” problems to the residents of Jammu. The PIL has been posted for further consideration on December 22.
