Enforce pan masala ban strictly: HC

The Kerala High Court on Thursday directed the state government to proceed with the seizure and destruction of banned gutka, pan masala and their variants after Friday. A Division Bench comprising Justice C N Ramachandran Nair and Justice C K Abdul Rehim passed the order on a petition by Basil Attipetty demanding proper implementation of the ban imposed by the government.  The state government submitted that it had given time to the traders till Friday to remove the banned articles from the state. “Since time is granted till Friday, the government should proceed with the seizure and destruction of the articles from the next day onwards. There is likelihood of clandestine stocking and sale which should be checked by the government so as to ensure that banned articles are no longer available in the market,” the court held.  The court further observed that though there is prohibition on the manufacture, sale and distribution under the government order, there is nothing in the order regarding the seizure and destruction of the stock held by the dealers.  Appearing for the state, special government pleader Tom K Thomas submitted that the government has issued a circular to all District Collectors, district police chiefs and the Director of Health Services requesting them to provide adequate vehicle and police protection for searching godowns of the traders. Two containers of pan masala were stopped at the Walayar checkpost. Stringent action will be taken against those who are involved in the sale and distribution of banned articles after Friday, he said.  The government further submitted that the products manufactured and supplied by the traders are in violation of the provisions of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006. The traders had been selling the products without showing the ingredients of the product in the package, the state said. “It is true that the state is getting good revenue by taxing these products. However, the state has taken a decision to ban the products,” government pleader said.
Source:http://newindianexpress.com