Tobacco manufacturer issued notice

Seeks response within a week

The Delhi High Court on Wednesday asked a tobacco manufacturer on why the stay granted to it protecting from coercive measures from Delhi government for selling tobacco should not be vacated. The court of Justice Rajiv Shakdher issued notice to Sugandhi Snuff King Pvt Ltd, seeking its response within a week.

The Delhi Government had challenged the order in its response as required by the earlier court order, stating that tobacco consumption was on the increase in the Capital and that the application was being filed in public interest. It was also said that manufacturers in large must be stopped from producing goods that directly harm the public.

The High Court had on April 8, passed orders restraining the Delhi Government from taking any coercive measures against tobacco sellers, while hearing a plea of the manufacturers against the ban of chewable tobacco, which has been enforced in the Capital around March 30.

Sugandhi Snuff King Pvt Ltd had filed the plea in court against the order of the Delhi Government banning sale, purchase and storage of all forms of chewable tobacco including gutkha, khaini and zardain Delhi. It had stated that the Delhi government did not have the power to enforce this ban under the Food Safety and Standards Act.

Manufacturer had filed plea in court against the Delhi Govt’s order banning sale, purchase, storage of all forms of chewable tobacco in Delhi