85% warning on tobacco packs: HC begins hearing

The High Court on Wednesday began hearing a batch of petitions filed by tobacco manufacturing companies and others across the country who have challenged the rule of 85% pictorial health warning on tobacco packages.

A division bench comprising Justice B S Patil and Justice B V Nagarathna heard the petitions and adjourned the hearing to Thursday.

The petitioners, Tobacco Institute of India and others, have challenged the enforcement of Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products (Packaging and Labelling) Rules, 2014, which require printing of pictorial health warning, covering 85% of the tobacco product packages.

The single bench had vacated the stay on the enforcement, making it compulsory for tobacco manufacturers to have 85% pictorial warning.