Srinagar: For the PIL seeking ban on the sale of tobacco items including cigarettes without 85 percent pictorial and textual warning, Jammu and Kashmir High Court sought response from State as well as Central Government.

The Notice has been issued by the Division Bench of Chief Justice N Paul Vasanthakumar and Justice Ali Mohammad Magrey, to Government of India through its secretary Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and Divisional Commissioners of Kashmir and Jammu directed counsel representing them to seek instructions within two weeks in this regard and directed listing of the PIL for further consideration on May 24.

“Strict compliance to package and warning norms provided by cigarettes and other Tobacco Products (Packaging and Labeling) (Amendment) Rules, 2014” , the direction sought to petitioner. Petitioner in his petition said that as per rules, "cigarettes and other tobacco products packaging should contain 60% pictorial health warning and 25% textual health warning, a total of 85% principal space on packaging of Cigarettes and other Tobacco Products should be covered with warnings". "The administration have failed to implement the Rules as the cigarettes and other tobacco products are still being sold without following the prescribed 85% warning norms", he further added.