A Bench led by Justice G S Singhvi issued notice to the centre and others on a special leave petition filed by NGO ‘Health for Millions Trust’.
The court put on hold the operation of seven-year-old interim order passed on a plea by some tobacco product manufacturers against tobacco advertisement rules.
The apex court’s order is likely to pave the way for the implementation of point of sale rules of tobacco products, which remained stuck for the last seven years.
Appearing for the NGO, advocate Prashant Bhushan submitted that the interim order passed by the HC had resulted in blatant violation of the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products (Prohibition of Advertisement and Regulation of Trade and Commerce, Production, Supply and Distribution) Rules 2004.
“It has been a total frustration of the statutory Rules framed under the Act,” the court noted and stayed the order passed in 2005. The court sought response from the Centre and others within four weeks.