The Supreme Court today refused to ban asbestos, considered a health hazard, but directed the Union and state governments to put in place a body to regulate its use and manufacturing.

A bench of Chief Justice S H Kapadia also asked various state governments to follow a 1995 ruling of the apex court, spelling out the guidelines and frameworks for the use of the building material, generally used for erecting temporary shades and walls.

The bench, which also included justices K S Panicker Radhakrishnan and Swatanter Kumar, gave the order while dismissing a public interest lawsuit filed by NGO Kalyaneshwari, which had moved the court in 2004 seeking its ban on the grounds that it poses serious health problems for the people living under roofs made up of asbestos.

While dismissing Kalyaneshwari's petition, the bench also questioned its bonafide.