Hookah bars: HC seeks Centre's reply

Times News Network

May 22, 2008

Chandigarh: The Punjab and Haryana High Court on Wednesday asked the Union of India to file its reply while hearing a PIL against the supply of nicotine through "shishas" and "hookahs" at joints across Chandigarh.

The PIL had been filed last year by Burning Brain Society, an NGO, follow­ing which the high court had issued no­tice to various respondents. Notices had been issued to the Union ministry of health, drugs technical advisory board and the directorate-general of commer­cial intelligence and statistics, among others.

The PIL raised the issue of alleged laxity on the UT administration's part in registering FIRs against such outlets and its failure to get the material tested under the prevention of the Food Adul­teration Act and the drugs Act.

"Since Nicotine is used in its chemi­cal form and not tobacco as defined in Schedule One of the Tobacco Control Act, it is illegal to make people consume it," the petition stated. The PIL also highlighted that central government bodies had failed to check the import of dangerous nicotine and had not framed clear guidelines with regard to the sup­ply and sale of nicotine in its extracted form. The petitioner-society requested the government to take action against establishments, hotels and restaurants in this regard, adding that nicotine was actually used as an insecticide.