Delhi- A PIL is filed before the Supreme Court of India for a direction to raise the minimum age for smoking to 21 years and a ban on selling loose cigarettes to strictly issue the guidelines to control the increasing smoking habits among adolescents.
Demand for new Guidelines
The Writ petition filed under Article 32 of the Constitution of India prays for a direction to the center Government and others seeking an order to formulate new guidelines for removal of smoking zones from commercial places and airports, increasing the minimum age for smoking, banning on the sale of loose cigarettes nearby schools and colleges, healthcare centers and religious places.
The Writ petition mentions that the issue of an appropriate writ of Mandamus directing the Union of India to exercise its power to initiate a ban mechanism on selling loose cigarettes and selling them nearby educational institution, healthcare centers, religious places etc., that is likely to result in reduction in the addiction of tobacco and initiate scientific studies.
The petition further argued that in India, the habit of smoking is affecting the health of the citizens to a huge extent and the easy access to cigarettes are making them more vulnerable to such habits.
Dangerous for Health
The petition referred to the fact sheet released by WHO in 2018 regarding the prevalence of tobacco consumption in India, where it was stated that cardiovascular diseases are increasing among the young population in India. Out of the total mortality rate in India, 9.5% is contributed by the cardiovascular diseases caused due to smoking. Another survey published in October 2021 stated that only 1.9% of the establishments in Bangalore that had smoking zones with designated license.
The Journal of Nicotine and Tobacco Research published a study that noted that India is causing a financial burden of secondhand smoke exposure. Second hand smoke causes Rs. 567 billion in health care costs every year, that constitute 8% of the total annual health care cost in India.
India on 2nd Rank on smoking
The increasing rate of smoking since the last two decades making India rank in the 2nd position in the smoker’s category for the age group between 16 years to 64 years.
The undue effect of smoking not only affects the lungs but it also affects the eyes. And this petition is in support of the fundamental right to live in a healthy environment under Article 21 of the Constitution of India.
The author is an avid blogger and likes to write on subject matters related to Law, Politics and matters of Constitutional importance.
The funny part is “smoking is injuries to health”?,where can we find honest companies,yet the company runs in profit.