Bombay HC asks Centre to reply on tobacco PIL

Court to decide on the admission of the plea on April 27

Bombay High Court (HC) on Monday asked government to reply to a petition against its investments in tobacco companies.

Seven people, including Tata Trusts' managing trustee R Venkataramanan, last week filed a public interest litigation (PIL) in Bombay HC against government and six state-owned insurers including Life Insurance Corporation (LIC) seeking divestment of their holding in tobacco companies and also seeking to prevent them from making such investments in the future.

The government, along with the six state-owned insurers, has investments worth more than Rs 1 lakh crore in cigarette maker ITC.

The court will decide on admission of plea on April 27. 

Waseem