Govt opposes hookah bars in city restaurants

Appearing for the Delhi government, advocate Najmi Waziri told the bench of Chief Justice D Murugesan and Justice Rajiv Sahai Endlaw that “state government has expressed its concern over hookah bars where youngsters are going, and, which may adversely affect their health.”

He said in most such bars or lounges, there is no separate smoking zone. The government told the court that “MCD officials should go and see whether restaurants are following the terms of the licence given to them.”

The court was hearing a plea filed by NGO World Lung Foundation, South Asia, through its president G R Khatri, seeking “effective” implementation of anti-smoking laws in public places and preventing restaurants from running hookah bars.

MCD supported the plea and informed the court that the agency is mulling action against restaurants running illegal hookah bars.

“Licences are issued to restaurants not to run hookah bars, but only to serve food. If they (restaurants) are running hookah bars, it is not permissible,” MCD lawyer said.

After hearing the arguments, the court observed that “if there is any violation of the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products (Prohibition of Advertisement and Regulation of Trade and Commerce, Production, Supply and Distribution) Act by the restaurants, the civic agencies need to taken action against them.”

Appearing for the National Restaurant Association of India, advocate Lalit Bhasin opposed the

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