New Delhi:
The Supreme Court today reprimanded the government for conniving with the tobacco industry to circumvent guidelines on ads for tobacco products.
The court has attacked and over-ruled an earlier judgement by the Bombay High Court in 2006 which had suspended those guidelines. Supreme Court judges slammed that verdict and said, "Every day, every moment people are dying of cancer and it is the Centre which connived with the tobacco lobby by non- appearance of an advocate during the hearing at Bombay High court in 2006".
Today's verdict reinstates rules that limit the size of ads that can be displayed at shops that sell tobacco products. The hoarding needs to prominently display, in a local language, that 'tobacco causes cancer' or 'tobacco kills'.
The case is based on a Public Interest Litigation or PIL filed by a non-profit named Health For Millions.