In its affidavit, the Pesticide Manufacturers & Formulators Association rejected the allegations made by Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI) that there were some deaths in Kerala due to use of Endosulfan.
"The PIL is manifestedly prepared with the malafide motive of bringing about a ban on sale of Endosulfan all over India for political gain. This is no bonafide public interest involved in this petition," the association said, requesting the apex court to allow manufacturing and sale of Endosulfan.
The association also refuted allegations of the DYFI that the producers were violating right to life of citizens guaranteed under Article 21 of the Constitution.
"It is submitted the petition is vexatious, false, frivolous and not a PIL and should be dismissed with exemplary cost," the manufacturers said, adding the person who filed the petition on behalf of DYFI is a CPI-M MLA from Kerala.
On May 13, the apex court banned production, sale and use of Endosulfan in the country for eight weeks. The court's interim order came on the petition seeking a ban on Endolsulfan on the ground that it was causing health hazards including genetic disorders in Kerala where it is widely used.
The court had further said a detailed study from all aspect needs to be done by an expert committee and directed the government to form it by amalgamating the two panels - one headed by the Director General of ICMR and another by Agricultural Commissioner of the Ministry of Agriculture.
It had asked the committee to give its preliminary report within eight weeks whether the pesticide should be banned or its existing stock eliminated in phases.