COVID-19: PIL in SC seeks proper disposal of masks

A PIL seeking advisories for proper disposal of used masks was filed in the Supreme Court on Wednesday. A request for taking up the matter for an urgent hearing is also made.

New Delhi: A PIL was filed in the Supreme Court seeking advisories for proper disposal of used masks which are currently discarded in household garbage.

The PIL has been filed by a law student, Ankit Gupta, in order to prevent relapse of Corona. A request for taking up the matter for an urgent hearing is also made.

The petitioner contends that the government has mandated the use of masks and violation of the rule of wearing masks has been made a punishable offence but hasn't issued any guidelines for its safe disposal so that the infection doesn't spread.

Explaining further, he says that domestic workers who collect garbage from the households are at great risk of community transmission as they collect the garbage from different households daily.

"The country is facing a lot on both economic and social fronts due to COVID-19 and it would not be feasible if the community transmission kicks in again which hitherto been contained due to nationwide lockdown," read the PIL.

Gupta seeks directions to the government to issue guidelines for local civic agencies for proper handling and disposal of face masks which are being disposed of from the household as domestic waste.

Further, he seeks awareness campaigns to be run by media to propagate the correct ways for disposal of used face masks by the public.