Tobacco warning diluted: Govt says Ramadoss lied, SC supports govt stand

NEW DELHI: The Centre has given an undertaking in the Supreme Court that it will implement the rules relating to pictorial warning on cigarette and tobacco products from May 31.

The assurance came in the backdrop of criticism that the Centre was dragging its feet on implementing the rules due to pressure from the tobacco lobby.

The government said that former Union health minister Anbumani Ramadoss had lied when he alleged the minutes of the GoM (Group of Ministers) meeting on the issue of pictorial health warnings on cigarette and beedi packs had been altered due to pressure from tobacco and cigarette manufacturers and to benefit the tobacco industry.

On Tuesday, the apex court asked for the records of the meeting of Group of Ministers to examine the charge of the former health minister.

Today, after looking at the records of the meeting, the SC supported the government���s stand and recorded its undertaking to implement the warning by May 31. The apex court also barred all other courts from dealing with the issue.

Additional Solicitor General Gopal Subramanium appearing for the Union government gave the undertaking before a bench of Justices B N Agrawal and G S Singhvi.

Ramadoss, who had campaigned aggressively against smoking, had alleged that the minutes of the February 3 GoM meeting were doctored to make warnings on the tobacco and beedi packs smaller than what was agreed upon.

Viewing the allegation seriously and wanting to know whether the minutes of the GoM were changed subsequent to Ramadoss signing it, the Supreme Court asked the Centre on Tuesday to produce records of the February 3 GoM meeting chaired by Pranab Mukherjee before it on Wednesday.

Additional solicitor general Gopal Subramaniam, appearing for the health ministry, was in a piquant situation but tried to deflect the issue by saying the Centre has taken a decision to strictly enforce from May 31 the health warning, which would occupy 40% of the front side of the cigarette or beedi packets.