HC against eateries running illegal hookah bars in city

A large number of restaurants in the Capital came under the scanner of Delhi High Court on Wednesday for illegally doubling up as 'hookah bars' though they had licences only to run as eateries. Harish V Nair reports.

A large number of restaurants in the Capital came under the scanner of Delhi High Court on Wednesday for illegally doubling up as 'hookah bars' though they had licences only to run as eateries.

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The court slammed the Municipal Corporation of Delhi and the New Delhi Municipal Council for not enforcing the Cigarettes and other Tobacco Products (prohibition of supply and distribution) Act, 2003, mostly in Greater Kailash-I, Greater Kailash-II, South Extension, Connaught Place, Defence Colony and New Friends Colony, especially while issuing licences.

"Why don't you incorporate the clause while giving the licence?" a bench of acting Chief Justice AK Sikri and Justice RS Endlaw asked lawyers for the civic agencies while hearing a public interest litigation filed by NGO World Lung Foundation-South Asia.

The NGO's president GR Khatri told the court that several restaurants, which he named, had hookah bars and law-enforcing authorities remained mute spectators. He said the civic agencies were empowered to impose fines on the restaurants under Rule 4 of the Smoke-Free Rules 2008.

The court issued notices to the municipal corporations of south, east and north Delhi, Delhi government, police and the Centre seeking their responses on the issue by August 29.

The PIL said it was common to see youngsters in Delhi restaurants smoking hookahs in the presence of other customers.

"Hookah smoking is a growing public health threat that may lead to resurgence in tobacco use among vulnerable populations," said the PIL.