Decision to ban gutkha in Uttarakhand put on hold

"The notification in this regard has been put on hold and will now be reviewed at the next meeting of the state cabinet before a final decision whether to implement the ban or not will be taken," Food Commissioner Ranbir Singh told PTI.

The next cabinet meeting is slated for October 20, he said.

The government had issued the notification last night imposing a one-year ban on manufacturing, sale and hoarding of gutkha and similar stuff.

Asked why the notification had been put in abeyance, Singh said it had been issued at the commissioner level but now the government wants to weigh the pros and cons of the decision before implementing it.