A bench of Acting Chief Justice A K Sikri and Justice R S Endlaw issued notices to New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC), three MCDs, Central government and also the Delhi police on a plea for directions to them to effectively implement the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products (Prohibition of Advertisement ... And Distribution) Act (COTPA) and the Prohibition of Smoking in Public Places Rules.
The petition was filed by NGO World Lung Foundation - South Asia through its president Doctor G R Khatri, who alleged that some restaurant owners, who have obtained licence only to serve foods in their eating joints, have been running hookah bars which is violative of the licence conditions under the MCD and the NDMC Act.
Claiming that it has conducted a survey, the NGO said, "Some of hookah bars are operational and are serving hookah in the eating houses in flagrant violation of the terms and conditions of the licence."
"As per the Municipal Act, the eating joints which have been granted licence cannot run hookah bars as it comes within the mischief of Section 4 of the Act.
"Issue directions to respondents to cancel the licence of the eating houses who are running hookah bars without sanction of law," the petition said. (More)