2017 Supreme(P&H) 2368
IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA
AMIT RAWAL, J.
Mohalla Sudhar Committee – Appellant
Vs.
State of Punjab – Respondent
CWP No. 8851 of 2014
Decided On : 12-01-2017
For the Petitioner: Inderjeet Sharma
For the Respondent: Yatinder Sharma, Praveen Chander Goyal, for M.C., Bathinda, Aashish Chopra, Ms. Mansi Bansal
Headnote:
Mobile Tower Installation - Jurisdiction of Municipal Corporation - Health Hazards - Judicial Review
Fact of the Case:
The petitioner challenged the permission granted by the Municipal Corporation for erecting a mobile tower in a residential area, citing health hazards and lack of spot inspection.
Finding of the Court:
The court found that the guidelines for tower installation were considered, and the petitioner's claims were lacking in material particulars, leading to the dismissal of the petition.
Issues: Jurisdiction of Municipal Corporation, Health Hazards, Lack of Material Particulars
Ratio Decidendi: The court relied on previous judgments and guidelines to determine that electromagnetic field up to 300 G.Hz does not have adverse health effects, and that the Municipal Corporation has the prerogative to grant licenses based on guidelines.
Final Decision: The writ petition was dismissed for lack of merit and material particulars.
Amit Rawal, J.
The petitioner purported to be the resident of Aggarwal Street Back Side Sirki Bazar Bhatinda has invoked the extra ordinary writ jurisdiction under Article 226/227 of Constitution of India challenging Annexure P-1 i.e. permission granted by Municipal Corporation, Bathinda granting the permission to respondent No.3 for erecting the mobile tower on the premise that it is against the following guidelines:-
"(i) First preference shall be given to the location of tower in the Forest areas.
(ii) Second preference shall be given to the location of tower in the open or public areas away from residential locations.
(iii) Where it is not possible to avoid the location of the tower in residential area the same shall be located in open space or park with prior consent of owners of adjoining residential houses.
(iv) Erection of tower shall not be allowed within a radius of 100 meter from residential building school and hospital.
(v) Installation of Base Station Antennas within the premises of schools and hospitals may be avoided because children and patients are more susceptible to Electro Magnetic Field.
(vi) Installation of Base Station Antennas in narrow lanes should be avoided in order to reduce the risks caused by any earth quake or wind related disaster.
(vii) The Base Station Antennas should be at least 3 m away from the nearby building and antennas should not directly face the building. Further the lower end of the antenna should be at least 3 meter above the ground or roof."
2. Contention of Mr. Inderjeet Sharma, learned counsel appearing on behalf of petitioner is that installation of the tower in residential colony will be health hazard for all the residence and as well as the children. Representation had been made to the Deputy Commissioner but same has not been decided. Mohalla Sudhar Committee had also passed the resolution against the installation of the tower. Permission has been granted without doing any spot inspection, therefore, action of the Municipal Corporation is totally illegal, repungant and perverse.
3. Per Contra, Mr. Ashish Chopra, learned counsel appearing on behalf of respondent No.3 has drawn the attention of this Court to the written statement by submitting that the respondent-company has obtained the licence under the Broadband Wireless Access (BWA) 2010 to provide 4G and broadband services in the Circles/States Pan-India including the State of Punjab. Application dated 06.12.2013 for installation of the communication tower was submitted to the Municipal Commissioners in consonance with the advisory guidelines (Annexure R-3/1) and also guidelines issued by the State of Punjab as Annexure R-3/2 and after taking into consideration the guidelines, permission was granted. He also drawn the attention of this Court to site plan annexed with the petition to point out that tower is being erected on the commercial area i.e. on the shop and not on the residential area.
He further submits that in various judgments passed by Hon'ble High Courts in India, it has been held that radiation from Cell Phone Towers does not cause any health problem to persons residing or working in the locality and referred to the judgment passed by Coordinate Bench of this Court in Dhup Singh and others v. Union of India and another, 2014(4) PLR 564, wherein by taking into consideration all the factors, writ petition of identical nature, has been dismissed.
4. Mr. Praveen Chander Goyal, learned counsel appearing on behalf of respondent No.2-Municipal Corporation, Bathinda submits that writ petition is liable to be dismissed for want of impleadment of the proper and necessary party and since permission has been granted by the Municipal Corporation yet there is no impleadment. However, he has rendered assistance to the Court by saying that petition is liable to be dismissed on lack of particulars as no proof of residence of that area has been attached. Particulars of the community is registered or not is also wanting.