TNI Bureau: Against illegal hookah bars, the Delhi High Court has issued notice to take strict action against restaurants that are running as illegal hookah bars in the state.

Earlier, the NGO World Lung Foundation-South Asia had approached the court for effective implementation of laws against smoking in public places including cancellation of the licenses issued to restaurants which were running hookah bars without due authorization.

Justice A.K. Sikri and Justice Rajiv Sahai Endlaw of the Delhi High Court have issued notices to the New Delhi Municipal Council, the three municipal corporations, the central government and Delhi Police for implementation of the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products (Prohibition of Advertisement and Regulation of Trade and Commerce, Production, Supply and Distribution) Act (COTPA) and the Prohibition of Smoking in Public Places Rules.

As per the NGO, some restaurant owners obtained licenses only to dish up foods in their restaurants but they were also running hookah bars illegally for which they had appealed in the Delhi High Court to nab the crime in this context. They had also categorically presented about the huge negative effect of smoking Hookah in their petition.