Police should see to it that such items are not available
A Division Bench of the Kerala High Court on Thursday directed the State government to take steps to seize and destroy pan masala and gutkha containing tobacco and nicotine after June 15 in terms of a government order banning manufacture, sale, and distribution of these items in the State.
The Bench comprising Justice C.N. Ramachandran Nair and Justice C.K. Abdul Rehim issued the directive while disposing of a public interest writ petition in this regard.
The court directed the State government to take steps to check the clandestine stocking and sale of the banned pan masala and gutkha after June 15. Government agencies, including the police, should ensure that such prohibited items would no longer be available in the State.
Meanwhile, Justice T.R. Ramachandran Nair referred to a Division Bench a writ petition filed by the manufacturers challenging the ban order in view of the public interest involved in the case.
The government in an affidavit said the ban order had been issued in the interest of public safety and health. It said the question of giving the manufacturers an opportunity of hearing did not arise as the order had been issued under the provisions of the Food Safety and Standards Act 2006.
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