Differ Tobacco Industry
The Supreme Court on Monday asked the Ministry of Health to explain why the proposed display of pictorial warnings on cigarettes packs and other tobacco products has been deferred to May 31, 2009. The graphic warnings were originally meant to be implemented on December 1 but the Union Cabinet decided to defer the move last month. The court gave the Ministry of Health four weeks to file the reasons for the decision and thereafter adjourned the matter.
The notice seeking the Government’s response came from the Bench of Justices B N Agarwal and G S Singhvi, acting on an application filed by an NGO, Health for Millions, which had questioned the delay.
Senior advocate Indira Jaisingh, appearing for the NGO, alleged that Government authorities delayed the implementation of the notification due to pressure from the tobacco lobby. The Centre had earlier issued two notifications directing tobacco manufacturers to print pictorial warnings.
