Why no ban on gutka in plastic sachets SC
Tells Centre To Reply Within Four Weeks
Tells Centre To Reply Within Four Weeks
New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Tuesday asked the Centre whether it was more interested in the revenue generated by sale of gutka sachets,which experts call a poisonous cocktail of tobacco and plastic,rather than the health of millions who consume it and invite cancer.
A bench of Justices G S Singhvi and A K Ganguly asked the government to fix its priorities and sought its response by December 2.Do government authorities know how many cancer patients are suffering from the harmful effects of gutka and paan.Can you (Centre) have financial interests outweigh the health interest of people, it asked.
These observations came on a bunch of petitions filed by gutka manufacturers,who challenged the Rajasthan HCs August 2007 decision banning use of plastic sachets for gutka and paan contents.Resorting to polluter pays principle,the HC had also ordered fines on manufacturers using plastic sachets.Though on September 7,2007,the SC stayed the HC order,it sought assistance of the solicitor general keeping in mind the seriousness of the issue and had made the Centre a party to the petitions.SG Gopal Subramaniam attempted to assuage the bench’s concerns by saying,We have appointed a committee to look into these aspects.All we are seeking is time to file an affidavit based on the findings of the report. Though the bench granted four weeks time to the Centre to file the affidavit,it was unimpressed by the governments stand.The government is not doing anything except appointing committees.There must be ban on sale of these items. Pointing out the environmental hazards posed by use of plastic sachets,the court gave an illustration of how the Yamuna was being choked due to plastic waste.The next generation will thank us for choked cities and villages, it said.The SG said the good work done by the SC in implementing the warning on cigarette packs had resulted in considerable decline in smoking.Today,people are willing to look into the aspect of health hazards thanks to the SC’s efforts, he said.
* SC comes down hard on cops who commit crime
New Delhi: Observing that policemen should be given harsher punishment for criminal acts,the Supreme Court on Tuesday reserved its verdict on the CBIs plea for enhancing the punishment to three policemen who chopped of a mans private parts.A bench of Justices Markandeya Katju and T S Thakur said policemen need to be given a harsher punishment as otherwise the entire society will crumble and there will be utter lawlessness.You are policemen and supposed to be the protector of the people.So,you have to be given harsher punishment for your crime as otherwise the entire society will crumble and lawlessness will prevail.
New Delhi: Observing that policemen should be given harsher punishment for criminal acts,the Supreme Court on Tuesday reserved its verdict on the CBIs plea for enhancing the punishment to three policemen who chopped of a mans private parts.A bench of Justices Markandeya Katju and T S Thakur said policemen need to be given a harsher punishment as otherwise the entire society will crumble and there will be utter lawlessness.You are policemen and supposed to be the protector of the people.So,you have to be given harsher punishment for your crime as otherwise the entire society will crumble and lawlessness will prevail.
As human beings,we ought to have self control.Otherwise,what is the difference between human beings and animals the Bench told senior counsel K T S Tulsi and Rakesh Dwivedi appearing for the accused police personnel.AGENCIES