SC bans endosulfan for eight weeks

The Supreme Court on Friday banned the production, sale and use of controversial pesticide Endosulfan in the country for the next eight weeks, holding that human life is more important than anything else.

"Keeping in mind various judgements of this court under Article 21 (right to life and liberty) of the Constitution and particularly keeping in mind the precautionary principle we, hereby, direct and pass ad-interim order for immediate ban on production and use of Endosulfan all over India," a bench headed by Chief Justice S H Kapadia said.

The bench also directed the statutory authorities to freeze the production licences granted to the manufacturers of the controversial pesticide till its further order.