Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, May 10: Jammu and Kashmir High Court today sought response from State as well as Central Government to the PIL seeking ban on the sale of tobacco items including cigarettes without 85 percent pictorial and textual warning.
The Division Bench of Chief Justice N Paul Vasanthakumar and Justice Ali Mohammad Magrey issued notice to Government of India through its secretary Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and Divisional Commissioners of Kashmir and Jammu directed counsel representing them to seek instructions within two weeks in this regard and directed listing of the PIL for further consideration on May 24.
Besides prohibition on its sale, the petitioner also sought direction to officials to confiscate all cigarettes and other tobacco products having pictorial and textual warning of less than 85%. “Strict compliance to package and warning norms provided by cigarettes and other Tobacco Products (Packaging and Labeling) (Amendment) Rules, 2014”, reads the PIL.
Petitioner in his petition said that as per rules, cigarettes and other tobacco products packaging should contain 60% pictorial health warning and 25% textual health warning, a total of 85% principal space on packaging of Cigarettes and other Tobacco Products should be covered with warnings. He further added that the administration have failed to implement the Rules as the cigarettes and other tobacco products are still being sold without following the prescribed 85% warning norms.
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