Saturday, 21 September 2013 00:57
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The Supreme Court yesterday stayed the Gazette notification issued by the Health Ministry to have pictorial health warnings on 80% of the cover of cigarette packets.
This is following the Supreme Court taking up the Special Leave to Appeal No. 26/2013 yesterday.
CTC said Supreme Court Judges having heard submissions of counsel appearing for CTC as well as the respondents namely the Minister of Health, Secretary to the Ministry and the National Authority on Tobacco and Alcohol (NATA) in SC (Special) Leave to Appeal No. 26/2013 granted special leave to appeal from the order of the Court of Appeal refusing the interim relief sought by CTC in CA Writ Application No. 336/2012 on 22 February 2013.
The Court further granted interim relief as prayed for by CTC staying the operation of the Tobacco Product (Labelling and Packaging) Regulations No. 1 of 2012 dated 8 August 2012 pending the hearing and final determination of CA Write Application No. 336/2012.
“This stay order will initial be operative until 22 January 2014 in view of the Supreme Court directing that SC (Special) Leave to Appeal No. 26/2013 be mentioned on 21 January 2014 to ascertain the status of CA Writ Application No. 336/2012.
The hearing in CA Write Application No 336/2012 is fixed for 7 November 2013 and the hearing in SC (Special) Leave to Appeal No 26/2013 is fixed for 7 May 2014.
In view of these developments, CTC said it is not required to comply with the said regulations and will continue to produce and supply cigarettes to market as usual without any changes to its current packs.
