TN government to appeal against Madras HC order quashing gutkha ban

Chennai, Jan 31 (BPNS)

The Tamil Nadu government will move an appeal against the Madras High Court order quashing the ban on the sale, manufacture of tobacco products including gutkha.

State health minister, Ma Subramanian while speaking to media persons on Tuesday said that the state government would move an appeal in the Supreme court against the quashing of the ban after consulting with legal experts.

He also said that the government would move an amendment to the legislation during the assembly session. To a question on the demand of the traders in the state to sell tobacco products in stores, the minister said that traders and their associations must understand the ill effects of consuming tobacco.

It may be noted that the Madras High court had quashed the 2018 notification issued by the state government prohibiting the sale, manufacture, and distribution of tobacco products including gutkha.

 A division bench of the Madras High court comprising Justices R. Subramanian and Kumaresh Babu ruled that none of the central or state laws on the sale and consumption of tobacco and food safety provide for any permanent ban on tobacco and tobacco products. The court also observed that hence the government authorities cannot impose such a ban on the sale of tobacco products indefinitely.