Karnataka High Court verdict a major setback in fight against tobacco: Dr Vishal Rao
BENGALURU: Health experts are upset with the Karnataka High Court striking down the Cigarette and Other Tobacco Products (packaging and labeling) Amendment Rules, 2014, that mandated 85 per cent pictorial warnings on packets of cigarettes and other products.
In April 2016, the Rajasthan High Court and subsequently Supreme Court of India had issued the direction on current pictorial warnings on all tobacco packages of cigarettes, bidis and other form of chewing tobacco products.
Dr Vishal Rao, Karnataka based oncologist said, “We still don’t know what Karnataka High Court order exactly says as the lawyers present in Court are giving out contradictory versions about it. However, if the Bench has struck down the 85 per cent pictorial warnings, then this order is a major setback for public health.”
Recently, the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare had released Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS) 2016-17 that stated 62 per cent of cigarette smokers and 54 per cent of bidi smokers shared that they had thought of quitting because of the 85% pictorial warnings on the packets.
As per GATS-2, 81 lakh lives were saved owing to such tobacco control efforts.
“Taking the Order to be what is reported in some section of the media, Narendra Modi's ambitious goal of leading the world in fight against tobacco takes a massive body blow today. With 85 per cent pictorial warnings, India was No.3 in the world but this judgment will push India to 106th in the world,” said KV Dhananjay, advocate, Karnataka High Court and Supreme Court.
In a country like India, where people use several languages and dialects, the pictorial warning goes beyond the language and illiteracy barrier. According to Health Ministry-WHO supported PHFI study, the total economic costs attributable to tobacco use from all diseases in India in the year 2011 amounted to a staggering Rs 1, 04,500 crore — 12% more than the combined state and central government expenditure on health care in the same year.
“It is critical to protect our youth from the dangers of tobacco and we must do everything to defend the Government’s decision of 85 per cent pictorial warnings on all tobacco packages,” Rao added.
