Delhi govt not to take action against chewable tobacco sellers

Delhi High Court today restrained city government from taking any coercive action against the sellers and distributors of chewable tobacco on pleas by its manufacturers against ban on sale of the product in the national capital from March 30.
Justice Rajiv Shakdher, however, refused to stay the notification issued by Food Safety Commissioner of Delhi government on March 25 banning storage, sale, distribution and packing of chewable tobacco products in the capital.
The court said that the government will not take "any coercive" action against manufacturers, sellers and distributors till final disposal of petitions filed before it.
The court passed the order after counsel for Delhi government also agreed with its suggestion that no coercive action will be taken against the "similarly placed petitioners till further orders".

The court was also of the view that the government's notification has opened the flood-gates and a number of petitioners have rushed with similar pleas.
"Interim application for protection from coercive action is disposed of, the Delhi government will not take any action till final disposal of the petitions pending before it," the court said.
The court order was passed on a batch of petitions filed by manufacturers, including Vishnu Tobacco Products,Trimurti Fragrances Pvt Ltd, Ashok and Company Pan Bahar Ltd, Jaiswal Products and many others seeking quashing of the notification by the Arvind Kejriwal government, banning sale, purchase and storage of all forms of chewable tobacco including "gutkha, khaini and zarda" in the national capital.