SC transfers two petitions of smoking scenes to Delhi HC

New Delhi, Mar 27 (UNI) The Supreme Court today transferred two petitions, challenging the validity of the Act banning smoking scenes in movies and the rules regulating tobbaco advertisements, pending in the Madras High Court to the Delhi High Court.

A bench comprising Chief Justice YK Sabharwal, Mr Justice CK Thakkar and Mr Justice RV Ravindran also ordered, that in the meantime, no petition on the issue shall be entertained by any other court. Film producer Mahesh Bhatt had filed a writ in Delhi High Court challenging the validity of the Act, banning smoking scenes in the movies, passed on November 30, 2005 and to be enforced with effect from April 1, 2006.

The Act was promulgated on the ground that smoking is injurious to health and it must be checked in the public interest.

UNI AKS/ SC DKS HT1500