The Union Health Ministry has asked the Tamil Nadu government to explain why the gutkha ban, a Supreme Court directive, is not being implemented in the State.
Health Minister J.P. Nadda chaired a meeting on this on Wednesday, said a senior Health Ministry official. “The SC has ordered a ban on sale and manufacture of gutkha and it is the duty of State governments to implement it. We are looking at the reasons why this ban was not implemented properly. The Minister has asked the State officials to explain why there were gaps in implementation,” said the Health Ministry spokesperson.
In September 2016, the SC banned the sale of all forms of chewable tobacco and nicotine and directed authorities, including State governments and the FSSAI, to strictly enforce its directions.
