Punjab and Haryana HC appoints former ASG as amicus curiae to find reasons of cancer deaths in Punjab

However, Khosla submitted that though uranium might not be the exact reason, mainly in Malwa region of the state, but there was no denying the fact that thousands of people were dying of cancer and that there was a “Cancer Train” running from Punjab to Rajasthan carrying patients for cancer treatment. Khosla appealed for directions to the state government to find out the reasons for cancer as it was the duty of the Punjab government and it cannot say that it does not have any solution to the problem.

Since Khosla earlier had been appearing in the case as Assistant Solicitor General of India for the Centre government, the division bench asked him
to assist the court so as to suggest measures to find out solution to the problem.

Punjab’s Advocate General Ashok Aggarwal informed the court earlier that a six-member scientific committee, including scientists of BARC, had
conducted a study on the High Court directions and had ruled out the perception of Uranium contamination in ground water due to ash generated from Bathinda thermal power plants and also because of fertilizers use. He apprised the court that the scientific committee had found that occurrence of Uranium in environment is a result of natural process.

Aggarwal added that the he had no solution for the problem and left it for the court to pass appropriate directions to bring the petition to a
logical conclusion.

The court also directed intervener in the case, Iqbal Singh Kalsi, to prove his locus standi to the court as to how he was competent to give suggestions in the case. The case has now been adjourned for next hearing to August 31.