Assam govt imposes ban on gutkha

The Assam government on Friday passed an order banning manufacture and sale of gutkha and paan-masala containing tobacco and nicotine,even as a PIL seeking a ban on gutkha is pending disposal in the Gauhati High Court.

The order prohibiting manufacture,storage,sale,transportation,display and distribution of gutkha by whatever name and paan-masala with tobacco and nicotine,was issued under sub-section 2 of Section 30 of Food Safety and Standards Act,2006,in interest of public health,the notification said. The ban order is for one year.

It was in December 2012 that the HC had registered a PIL on the basis of a letter to the chief justice by Dr Ravindar Singh,vice-president of Indian Dental Association,praying for a direction to the state to impose such a ban.