Issues contempt notice to Rajnigandha pan masala

The Supreme Court today issued contempt notice to the Managing Director of Dharampal Satyapal group of companies, makers of two popular brands of tobacco, for allegedly defying its order banning use of plastic sachets for sale of their products.

A bench of justices G S Singhvi and A K Ganguly also asked the Centre to ensure total compliance of its December 2010 order “in letter and spirit”.

The bench asked Solicitor General Gopal Subramanium to file an affidavit on the compliance so far carried out by the states/Union Territories.

The bench passed the direction on a fresh application moved by an NGO, Centre for Public Interest Litigation (CPIL), complaining that the manufacturers of the gutka pan masala — Rajnigandha and Tulsi — in brazen violation of the apex court order continue to sell the products in plastic sachets.

It sought contempt action against Rajeev Kumar, Managing Director of Dharampal Satyapal group, for selling tobacco product in plastic cover in violation of the apex court order.

Counsel Prashant Bhushan, appearing for the NGO, alleged that the company in a bid to circumvent the apex court’s directions against sale of the products in plastic pouches was deliberately marking the sale as “only for export” though it is being sold within the country.

He pointed out that even though the products were marked for exports, the sale price was marked as '6 in Indian currency, indicating it was for domestic sale.

“Dharampal Satyapal group, whose turnover runs into thousands of crores of rupees and which manufactures big brands like Rajnigandha and Tulsi is packing its products in plastic material even after March 1,” the NGO submitted. The petitioner also annexed some samples of the tobacco products with its petition.