As per the observations made by the Maharashtra Government, 85 lakhs of people will die of oral and lung cancer by 2015 at the present rate. The Government thus put tabs on the advertisement on tobacco products by framing Cigarettes and Tobacco Products (Prohibition of advertisement and Regulation of Trade and Commerce, Production, Supply and Distribution) Rules 2004.
But the Bombay High Court gave interim stay on the implementation of the rules in 2005 and 2006 which was suspended by the Apex Court on January 3 on the petition received from “Health For Millions” an NGO.
The Apex Court blamed the Union Government for not taking proper steps to vacate the Bombay High Court order in the interests of the public at large. SC observes that the consumers of the tobacco products are the poor and the weaker sections in number.
The Bench of Justice GS Singhvi and Justice V Gopala Gowda sets aside on Monday the Bombay High Court Interim Stay Order that makes the tobacco manufacturers and traders to strictly adhere to the Rule 4 of above said rules as per which, The size of the advertisement at the ware houses and retail outlets restricted to 90/60 cms and also restricted to two such boards in number. They should carry the statutory warning that should cover 25% of the space with “Tobacco Kills” or “Tobacco Causes Cancer”. In the remaining 75% of the specified space, only name of the brand or a picture of the product is allowed but certainly not product promotional statements or any other pictures.
The stipulation is done in such a way that tobacco products will not catch the eye of public not to talk of attracting.
It is a welcome initiative to discourage the tobacco products from smoking the health of the millions.
(AW-SriJa)
