Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore (SP)

Mangalore, Apr 15: The Supreme Court (SC) is understood to have admitted all the petitions filed by Karnataka government on behalf of areca nut growers, opposing the ban imposed on the marketing of gutkha in plastic sachets.

Special prosecutor of Karnataka government, K M Nataraj, and veteran lawyer, K N Bhat, placed arguments in favour of these petitions. Senior advocate, P P Rao, and Pallav Sisodia appeared on behalf of The Central Arecanut and Cocoa Marketing and Processing Co-operative Limited (Campco), The Malnad Areca Marketing Co-operative Society Ltd (Mamcos), as well as some other petitioners, and argued in favour of lifting the said ban. They explained to the court the losses the farmers will have to face if the ban on plastic gutkha sachets continues.

Gujarat Tobacco Association has also filed a petition against ban on gutkha sachets.

The bench of the Supreme Court, comprising Justice Singhvi and Justice Radhakrishna, which heard the arguments, has posted the hearing of the petitions to July 20. It also instructed the union government to provide copies of the report it got prepared on the harmful contents of gutkha, to the concerned within two weeks. The defendants have been directed to study the report and file replies thereof within four weeks, a release by Campco said.