THE SUPREME Court banned gutka and pan masala sale in plastic sachets from March 2011. The Supreme Court bench of Justice G.S. Singhvi and Justice Asok Kumar Ganguly said on Tuesday that the gutka and pan masala manufacturers are restrained from using plastic material from March 1, 2011 and asked gutka manufacturers to start using eco-friendly material for packaging or close down.
The apex court of the country also directed the government to conduct a survey to ascertain the harmful consequences of these tobacco products on human health and environment. The move does not affect the sale of cigarettes, which are generally sold in paper packs. The case will now be heard on March 9 next year.
The Supreme Court passed the order on a petition filled by gutka manufacturers against the Rajasthan High Court's August 2007 order banning the sale of chewing tobacco and pan masala in plastic sachets. Gutka and pan masala market in the country is an estimated worth around Rs10,000 crore annually.
Gutka and pan masala, which is one of the main sources of caused mouth cancer, used by a very large number of people including women and children in the country. One out of every five tobacco-related deaths in worldwide reported alone from India.
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