UP govt. refuses ban on manufacture/sale of tobacco products

Lucknow, July 5(UNI) Uttar Pradesh government today refused to ban manufacture or sale of tobacco products in the state.

But the government assured to examine for bringing an Act to put a ban on the tobacco products in the near future.

Replying to a question in the state assembly, Parliamentary affairs minister Lalji Verma said the previous Bahujan Samaj Party government had banned the manufacture and sale of tobacco products through a Government Order(GO) on July 19,2002.

''But the ban was stayed by the Supreme Court hence there is no question of again issuing GO to ban the use of tobacco products in the state,'' he said.

When BJP member Hukum Singh demanded that whether the government proposes to bring an Act to ban the use of tobacco products in the state rather than issuing a GO, the minister said they will examine the demand.

Mr Singh further maintained that the SC stay on the ban was on technical grounds over the related GO.

The minister said the government had already issued a GO banning smoking in public places while an anti-tobacco cell was functioning to monitor the provisions under different Acts.

UNI