A division bench comprising Justice Y K Sabharwal and Justice K S Gupta issued the direction to MCD Deputy Health Officer K K Chaudhary, and asked him to file an affidavit within a week stating a clear picture.

The court order came on a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) by Movement for Improvement of Landscape Environment and Society (MILES) which alleged that the illicit trade of human hair was being carried out by some people in Jawalapuri, Nihalvihar and adjoining areas. MILES had further said that people involved in the trade were burning the leftover hair, which was a health hazard for surrounding colonies.

Chaudhary said in his submission that he had personally inspected the area few days ago and found no trading of human hair. However, MILES counsel Arun Khosla read from anaffidavit filed by Delhi Development Authority (DDA) where it admitted that 40 people in Jawalapuri were found involved in the trade.

The court took serious views over the contradiction in the statements of the two Government authorities and warned that if the statements of MCD officials were found to be contrary, action would be taken against them.

The court had issued notices to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) and DDA on August 20, asking them to file a reply to the petition.

Quoting a study by environmentalist Dr Iqbal Malik, MILES said the presence of keratin in the gases emitted by hair burning causes damage to organs like brain, liver, kidneys, the muscular system and was dangerous during pregnancy.

The presence of ammonia, oxides of nitrogen, sulphur dioxide, hydrogen sulphide, phosphate and lead in excess ratio was also dangerous for living beings, the petition said. MILES accused the police of providing protection to the illicit trade in thearea.