New Delhi (PTI): Indian Tobaco Company (ITC) Ltd, on Tuesday approached the Delhi High Court challenging the Centre's notification banning smoking in private offices and other establishments from October two.

Under the curbs, those caught smoking in public places and other private organisations will be fined Rs 200 which may increase to Rs 1,000.

So far, smoking is banned only in public places and in private offices an area has been allotted as smoking zone for the cigarette smokers.

Besides ITC, two others petitioners including Indian Hotels Association have also moved separate plea challenging the May 2008 notification issued by the Union Health Ministry.

Earlier this month, Union Health Minister Anbumani Ramadoss has said that the ban from the day coinciding with Mahatma Gandhi's birth anniversary would also cover hotels, restaurants and offices.

Besides this, the minister said the Government has also issued notifications to make pictorial warnings compulsory on all tobacco products from December one.

To begin with, the pictorial warnings would be those cleared by the Group of Ministers and would cover 40 per cent of tobacco product packets, but after about one year, more pictures can be brought in, he had said.

The Government is also making the fight against tobacco an integral part of the school health programme.

"According to a WHO study, around 14.1 per cent of school going children are using some or other form of tobacco, which is very worrisome," Ramadoss has said.

The Government had notified pictorial warnings to be carried on tobacco products last month after clearance by the Group of Ministers.