The Supreme Court on Monday sought response from the Centre and the States on a petition alleging that sterilisation camps were being conducted in unhygienic conditions across the country with scant regard for human life.

A bench of justices R M Lodha and H L Gokhale while issuing notices sought replies from the Union government, the State governments and all the Union Territories within eight weeks.

Appearing for the petitioner Devika Biswas, senior counsel Colin Gonsalves alleged that in places like Bihar sterilisation camps are being conducted under torch light and the general anaesthesia was being administered by untrained NGO workers.

He submitted that there was evidence to prove that as many as 60 operations were being performed within an hour by an NGO which has a tie-up with the Bihar government.

He alleged that similar camps were being conducted in different part of the country by various NGOs putting to risk the life of thousands of women.