The Supreme Court on Wednesday directed the tobacco companies to implement the rule mandating larger pictorial health warnings on packets of tobacco products and refused the manufacturers’ plea to stay the implementation of new cigarette packaging rules introduced from April 1.
The apex court said that the tobacco companies have to follow the rules till the Karnataka High Court, where all the petitions from various high courts are being transferred, pronounced its final order.
While directing the transfer of the related petitions from High Courts of Delhi, Bombay and Gujarat to the Karnataka High Court, the top court said the operation of order of the principal bench of the Karnataka High Court in Bengaluru refusing stay on the new rules would continue.