HC permits erecting of mobile towers

The Kerala High Court has permitted erecting of mobile towers in Kasaragod, Kozhikode and Thiruvananthapuram, over which locals were up in arms on health grounds, holding that the infrastructure provider had the necessary permits and licenses.
Disposing of three petitions by Indus Towers Ltd, a telecommunication infrastructure provider, a Division Bench comprising justices S Sirijagan and K Ramakrishnan held that debates were still on among the scientific community on whether the EMF emissions from the antennas of mobile towers could create health problems.
"Whether the commissioning of a telecommunication tower could affect the health of the people in the area is an issue which is still being debated among the scientist communities all over the world. This court has in two decisions held that there is no evidence that the same will affect the health of the people.

"Whether it will affect the health of the people or not, it is an undisputed fact that we are bound to live for the rest of our lives with mobile phones in our pockets," it held.
The petitioner had approached the court seeking police protection for erecting towers at Peringamalla in Nedumangad in Thiruvananthapuram, Vavad village in Kozhikode and Eleri Grama panchayat in Kasaragod and commissioning of the same.
There were protests from local people saying it would cause health hazards.
The statute prescribes certain licenses and permits for erecting telecommunications towers. If the petitioner has obtained necessary permits and licenses, nobody can prevent him from erecting and commissioning telecommunication lines, the court held and directed police officials to ensure the same.

Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI) Director General, Rajan S Mathews, welcomed the judgement.