Tobacco dealers’ plea against ban rejected

The Delhi high court on Friday made it clear that wholesale tobacco dealers will also not be allowed to operate from within 100 yards of schools, colleges and other educational institutions in the Capital.

The Delhi high court on Friday made it clear that wholesale tobacco dealers will also not be allowed to operate from within 100 yards of schools, colleges and other educational institutions in the Capital.

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The court dismissed a petition filed by an association representing the wholesale dealers against the ban imposed in May this year on any kind of sale of tobacco products near educational institutions.

They said the ban should be imposed only on retailers and wholesale dealers should not be within its ambit.

"Sale of cigarettes and other tobacco products, whether in wholesale or in retail, near educational institutions has the potential of attracting the students. This ban will definitely reduce the access to tobacco. The benefits from the said prohibition far outweigh the harm or loss to the handful of wholesellers," said the court.

The ban had been imposed on a PIL filed by World Lung Foundation (South Asia) that complained that sale of tobacco products such as cigarettes, pan and gutka continued near schools, colleges and hospitals despite a specific ban.

"The police and health authorities turned a blind eye despite Section 6 of the COPTA, which bans such sale and orders prosecution of the violators," WLF president G R Khatri said.