The Guwahati High Court declared the Assam Health Prohibition Act 2013 void. This comes as a major blow to the Assam Government's step to prevent rampant rise in cancer cases as the Assam Health Prohibition Act 2013 aims to prohibit manufacture, store & sale of smokeless tobacco in the state.
The act was produced in Legislative Assembly in 2013 by Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and manufacture, store & sale of smokeless tobacco was banned in Assam.
This verdict was announced by a two bench Judge comprising of Justices Ujjal Bhuyan and Poran Kr. Phukan. Terming it “unconstitutional”, the Gauhati High Court on Friday repealed the Assam Health (Prohibition of Manufacturing, , Trade Storage, Distribution, Sale and Consumption of Zarda, Gutkha, Pan Masala, etc., Containing Tobacco) Act, 2013.
Expressing his displeasure over the verdict, the Health Minister of Assam Himanta Biswa Sarma tweeted