HC to Delhi govt, decide within two weeks on tobacco ban plea

The Delhi High Court has asked the Delhi government to decide within two weeks to ban on tobacco product in the state. Court has given the direction during hearing a petition seeking for the same.

A division bench of Acting Chief Justice A.K. Sikri and Justice Rajiv Sahai Endlaw disposed off the Public Interest Litigation (PIL) and asked the petitioner, Doctors For You, to approach the state's Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

The petitioner Doctors For You which is a registered society had filed the petition for ban on tobacco product in Delhi as the rising case in oral cancer in Delhi. It also cited a July 31 newspaper article where state Health Minister A.K. Walia had said that tobacco should be banned in Delhi.

The Delhi High Court has asked the government to consider the PIL as a representation and decide upon it within two weeks.

The petitioner told the bench that when eight states had banned tobacco, why was Delhi not taking any action.

It is noted that eight states have already banned tobacco products, which are Madhya Pradesh, Kerala, Haryana, Bihar, Maharashtra, Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan and Goa.

Delhi government's standing counsel Najmi Waziri told the court that steps had been taken and if any representation was made to the government, it would be considered.

Additional Solicitor General Rajiv Mehra, appearing for the central government, told the court that under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, the centre had passed a regulation in 2011 empowering food safety commissioners in states to ban tobacco products.

(With inputs from IANS)