The Hindu : National : Gutkha: Court issues notice to States, Union Territories

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Saturday, Feb 12, 2005

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Gutkha: Court issues notice to States, Union Territories

By Our Legal Correspondent

NEW DELHI, FEB. 11. The Supreme Court today issued notice to all States and Union Territories on a petition seeking a direction to the gutkha manufacturers to prevent the manufacture and sale of gutkha that contains harmful chemicals such as magnesium carbonate. A Bench comprising Justice K. G. Balakrishnan and Justice Tarun Chatterjee, which had earlier issued notice to the Union Government on the public interest litigation petition filed by the Indore Consumer Forum asked the Centre to file its response in six weeks.

The petitioner said that almost all gutkha manufacturers added toxic chemicals while manufacturing the gutkha. Though the use of chemicals such as magnesium carbonate was prohibited under the Food Adulteration Act, almost all the manufactures were using them.

Hundreds of thousands of gutkha packets were sold across the country every day. Adulteration of tobacco products had led to tobacco-related diseases in the country.

It sought a direction to the manufacturers to comply with the provisions of the Food Adulteration Act and a direction to the authorities to immediately revoke the food licences of manufactures who were violating the law.

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