Enforce ban on sale, manufacturing and storage of tobacco: AAP

New Delhi: The AAP government has asked Delhi Police to enforce ban on sale, manufacturing and storage of all forms of chewing tobacco imposed by it in the national capital in April 2016.

In his letter to Delhi Police, Deputy Commissioner (Food Safety) Jai Prakash also cited the September 29, 2016 order of the Supreme Court for "total compliance" of the ban imposed on manufacturing and sale of gutka and pan masala with tobacco and/or nicotine.

On April 13 2016, Department of Food Safety had issued a notification banning sale, manufacturing and storage of all forms of chewing tobacco whether in single pack or twin packs ie tobacco and pan masala sold in separate packs but intended to be consumed together.

"The notification (of the department) had been challenged in the High Court in a number of petitions, but the Supreme Court vide order dated October 23, 2016 had directed for total compliance of the ban.

"You (Delhi Police) are, therefore, requested to enforce the ban imposed vide notification dated April 13, 2016, as ordered by the Supreme Court," Prakash said in the letter.

Dr Pankaj Chaturvedi, Professor of Surgical Oncologist (Tata Memorial Hospital) has praised the Delhi Government's initiative.

"In Delhi alone, there are 30 lakh tobacco users. 40% of these will die untimely deaths. Nearly 10,000 deaths every year are due to tobacco consumption in Delhi. There are more than 5 million children in India who are addicted to tobacco," he said in a statement.