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PIL in High Court against violation of Tobacco rules in Vadodara

PIL in High Court against violation of Tobacco rules in Vadodara
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Gujarat High Court issued notice in a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by the NGO working in Vadodara. The PIL was filed by the Faith Foundation regarding violation of Tobacco rules and Gujarat government resolution in Vadodara by the shops selling cigarettes and tobacco products. The court admits the PIL and issued notices to the enforcement authorities.

Faith foundation is working in the area of tobacco control deaddiction and HIV/AIDS for last 12 years in Vadodara city. They are also the member of Gujarat State Tobacco Control Steering Committee along with Vadodara city and district too. The NGO after repeated intimations to the enforcement authorities finally filed a PIL against them about violations of Tobacco related laws in Vadodara city.

“Under section 5 of Cigarettes and other Tobacco Products Act 2003, Rule 4 of the Cigarettes and other Tobacco Products Rules 2004 and the Gujarat government resolution issued on 14th February 2013 by the Health department. The act said prohibiting advertisement and regulating trade and commerce of cigarette and other tobacco matters as illegal. After issued several representations to the respondent authorities requesting them to take appropriate steps to see the implementation of act. But the shops clearly violating the rules and the government provision,” said Anant Christian Petitioner in the case.

He said the enforcement agencies are not taking the matter seriously and hence he filed a PIL in the high court in view of health point of view of the people. The PIL was admitted by the court and it issued notices to the enforcement agencies.

“The reason to file the PIL is that the shops selling cigarettes and tobacco products put up glamorous advertisement of tobacco products at the point of sales and hence lured the youth to try the products. This is dangerous in health point of view and the law enforcement agencies are not taking any action against them. The court admit the PIL and issued notices to the enforcement agencies,” said Christian.

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