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The PIL had sought direction to the Central Government to exercise its power in a rightful manner, and initiate scientific studies and other steps like banning cigarettes etc.
The Supreme Court on Friday dismissed plea seeking direction to formulate new guidelines for removal of smoking zones from commercial places and airports. The plea also seeks direction to increase the age of smoking, banning the sale of loose cigarettes near educational institutions, healthcare institutions, and places of worship.
A bench of Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Justice Sudhanshu Dhulia said that one should not file publicity interest litigation.
The plea filed by Advocates Shubham Awasthi and Sapta Rishi Mishra submitted that the young people are getting addicted to smoking tobacco products and they usually do so to look cool or under peer pressure. "They see adults smoking and it becomes a rite of passage or their inducement to initiate smoking to show that they are matured now," the plea said
The PIL filed through Advocate Devendra Singh had sought further direction to the Central Government to exercise its power in a rightful manner, and initiate scientific studies and other steps like bans etc. to control the sale and addiction of tobacco, herein specifically cigarettes in the country alleging that such products affect citizen’s right to health and influence them wrongly.
The plea also mentioned the factsheet released by the World Health Organization in the year 2018 which quoted the younger population in India to be at an increased chance of Cardio-Vascular Diseases and said that tobacco including cigarettes is a major contributor in killing 9 million people in India or 9.5% of all deaths in India.
Essentially, the plea had sought following directions to the respondents:
Case Title: Shubham Awasthi & Anr Vs. Union of India & Ors.
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