Supreme Court stays High Court verdict against 85 per cent pictorial warning on tobacco

In a setback to the cigarette and tobacco industry, the Supreme Court on Monday stayed a Karnataka High Court order quashing 85% pictorial warnings on packs containing such products.

“Though a... submission has been advanced... that it will affect their business, we have remained unimpressed... as we are inclined to think that health of a citizen has primacy and he or she should be aware of that which can affect or deteriorate the condition of health,” a three-judge bench led by the Chief Justice of India said in an order uploaded on the website at night.

Attorney general KK Venugopal had earlier opposed the HC order. The attorney general cited the latest WHO reports to claim that the health benefits of making the vast majority of illiterate consumers aware through such pictorial warnings were much more compelling than any other interest.


“Tobacco is the most dangerous thing that can be allowed. It causes several diseases,” he said.

“Most of the consumers are illiterate and do not bother reading the written warnings,” the AG said. “Graphic pictorial warnings are a potent cure. The more aware they are, the more they are likely to give it up.”