Smokeless ban struck down

The Gauhati High Court has struck down the Assam Health Act of 2013, which had sought to ban all forms of smokeless tobacco, according to a story in the Telegraph relayed by the TMA.

The Assam Health Act of 2013 prohibited the manufacturing, advertisement, trade, storage, distribution, sale and consumption of products such as zarda, gutkha and pan masala containing tobacco and nicotine.

And according to the report, it contained a provision requiring that all violators serve a minimum three-year prison sentence.

The court ruled that it was beyond the powers of the state legislature to pass this law because that power resided only with the national parliament.

Senior additional advocate-general Devjit Saikia confirmed that the act had been set aside but could not give details because the order will be received only on Monday.