Delhi High Court Orders Action on Illegal Hookah Sales Online
The Delhi High Court has directed the Centre to consider a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) about the illegal sale of hookahs and their variants on e-commerce platforms, which lack health warnings. The Court has given a three-month deadline for the Centre to address the issue and issue appropriate orders.
Details of the Court’s Decision
A bench led by Acting Chief Justice Manmohan, along with Justice Tushar Rao Gedela, noted that the petitioner, Jagatmitra Foundation, had not first approached the authorities before filing the plea. The Court suggested that the petitioner file appropriate proceedings if dissatisfied with the authorities’ decision.
The Delhi High Court directed the Centre to treat the writ petition as a formal representation and take necessary action according to existing laws. The Court emphasized that statutory provisions regarding hookahs are not being implemented and required the Centre to establish a standard procedure.
Health Risks Highlighted
The petitioner argued that public hookah consumption poses health risks, including second-hand smoke and the spread of communicable diseases. They criticized the unregulated online sale of tobacco products as a violation of public health rights and sought a regulatory mechanism to address these issues.
Doubts Revealed
Delhi High Court -: The Delhi High Court is a big building where judges work to make important decisions about laws and rules in Delhi, the capital city of India.
Centre -: In this context, ‘Centre’ refers to the central government of India, which makes and enforces laws for the whole country.
Public Interest Litigation (PIL) -: A Public Interest Litigation (PIL) is when someone goes to court not for themselves but for the benefit of the public, to address issues that affect many people.
hookahs -: A hookah is a water pipe used to smoke flavored tobacco. It is also known as a shisha.
e-commerce platforms -: E-commerce platforms are websites or apps where people can buy and sell things online, like Amazon or Flipkart.
health warnings -: Health warnings are messages that tell people about the dangers of using certain products, like smoking, which can harm your health.
Jagatmitra Foundation -: The Jagatmitra Foundation is an organization that works to help people and improve society. They brought the issue of illegal hookah sales to the court.
statutory provisions -: Statutory provisions are specific rules or laws made by the government that everyone must follow.
