Disposed

Mohammed Saif v. The State of Telangana

Telangana HC4 Jan 2024WP/136/2024

Case brief

AI extract

What is this about?

Petitioner sought a mandamus directing police authorities to grant permission to run a hookah centre at Malakpet, Hyderabad. Counsel submitted the issue was covered by a common order of the same Court dated 15.11.2023 in W.P.No.8223 of 2013 and batch; the State did not dispute it.

What did the court decide?

Writ petition disposed of in terms of the common order dated 15.11.2023 in W.P.No.8223 of 2013 and batch; no costs; pending miscellaneous petitions closed.

Mohammed Saif Vs The State of… — Constitutional and Fundamental Rights | Telangana HC (2024)

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[^32e61

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HIGH COURT FOR THE STATE OF^TELANGANA AT HYDERABAD

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(Special Original Jurisdiction)

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THURSDAY, THE FOURTH DAY OF JANUARY TWO THOUSAND AND TWENTY^FOUR

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PRESENT

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THE HONOURABLE SRI JUSTICE C.V.^{BHASKAR REDDY}

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WRIT PETITION NO: 136 OF 2024

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Between:

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Ir.4ohammed Saif, S/o: l/ohammed Sadiq,^Aged about ZJ years, Occ: Business, Rl/o^{H.No.18-8-24414211} ,^Fatehshah Nagar, Edi Bazar, Hyderabad, Telangana State

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...PETITIONER

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AND

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1 The State of Telangana, Rep by^{its Principal Secretary'Home Department,} Secretariat, Hyderabad

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2 The Commissioner of Police, Hyderabad,^{Office at Banjara Hills, Hyderabad,} Telangana State

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3 The Assistant Commissioner of Police,^{Malakpet Division, Hyderabad,} Telangana State

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4 The Station House Officer, Chaderghat^{Police Station, Chaderghat'} Hyderabad, Telangana State

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...RESPONDENTS

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Petition under Article 226 of^{lhe constitutionof lndia praying that in the} circumstances stated in^{the affidavitfiled therewith,the High Courtmay be} pleased to issue any writ, order or direction^{more particularlyonern the nature of} wRlT oF MANDAMUS^{declaringthe action of the Respondentsnot issuing} permission to the Petitioner for running^{hookah centerin the name and style as} "FlameandFlavoursHookahCentreandCaf6"atDNol6-10-27/117'SV Complex, Municipal Colony,^{Malakpet' Hyderabad,Telangana State, under the} provisions of Hyderabad city Police^{Act,'1348 Fasli as well as orderdated} 15111t2023 passed in wP.No.10775^{of 2023 and batch,as rllegal, arbrtrary and} violation^principles of natural iustice^{and consequently drrect the Respondents to} provide necessary permission to the^{Petitionerfor running hookah centerin the}

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name and style as^"l:lame and^{Flavours HookahCentre and Caf6" at D No l6-1O-} 271117, S.V. Complex, Municipal^{Colony, tvlalakpet, Hyderabad,TelanganaState,} under the provisions; of Hyderabad^{city PoliceAct, 134B Fasli as well as order} daled 15t1112O23^{pirssedin wP.No.10775of 2023 and ',catchby considering the} representation datec^{1 511 212023.}

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lA NO: 1 OF 2024

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Petition unde- Section¹ 51^{CPC prayinqthatin the circumstances stated in} the affidavit filed in r;upport^{of the petition,the High courtmay be pleasedto direct} the Respondents to^{provide necessary permission to the Petitionerfor running} hookah center in th,) name^{and style as "Flame and Flavours Hookahcentre and} Caf6" at D.No.16-10-27/1^{17, S.V. Complex. Municipal Colony, Ivlalakpet,} Hyderabad, Telangana state,^{under the provisionsof Hyderabad cityPoliceAct,} 1348 Fasli as well as Order^{dated 15-11-2023 passed rn WP.No.10775of 2023} and batch by consicering^{the representationdated1511212023,pending disposal} of main Writ Petitiotr.

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Counsel for the Petitioner:^{SRI HABEEBABUBAKARALHAMED}

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Counsel for the Respondents:^{AGP FOR HOME}

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The Court made the following:^ORDER

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TIIE HON'BLE Szu JUSTICE^{C.V.BHASKARREDDY}

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WRIT PETITION No.l36 of 2024

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ORDER:

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When the matter is taken up for^{hearing, learned counsel for} the petitioner submitted that^{the issue raised in this writ petition} is squarely covered by the^{common order passed by this Court in} W.P.No.8223 of 2013 and batch dated^{15.11.2023 ald therefore,} the present writ petition 6a]'^{be disposedof in terms of the said} order.

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karned Assistalt Government^{Pleader forHome} appearing for the^{respondentshas not disputed the said fact.}

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In view of the above submissions,^{this Writ Petition is} disposed of in terms of^{the commonorder dated l5.ll'2o23} passed by this Court in^{W.P.No.B223 of 20 13 and batch' No} costs.

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As a sequel, miscellaneous^{petitionspending,if any, shall}

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stand closed.

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SO/- MOHD. SANAULLAH ANSARI ASSISTANT REGISTBAR //TRUE COPY// l.'

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SECTION dFdiCCN

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To,

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1 The Principal Secretary, Home^{Departnrent. Secretarrat, TheState of Telangana,} Hyderabad

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2 The Commissioner of Pollce,^{Hyderabad.Offrce at Banlara Hllls, Hyderabad,} Telangana State

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3 The A-ssistant Commissioner^{oI Polrccl,4alakpetDivisron Hyderabad, Telangana} State

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4 The Station House Officer,^{ChaderghatPolrcc Stalron,Chaderghat, Hyderabad,} Telanoana Slate

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5 One iC to Sri Habeeb^{AbubakarAliramed. Advocate} [OPUC] 6 Two CCs to GP for Home,^{HighCoLrrl for the Slate of Telangana,at Hyderabad} tourl

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7 Two CD Copies TJ trJ

HIGH COURT

DATED:0410112024

ORDER

WP.No.136 cf²⁰²⁴

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DISPOSINCi^{OF THE WRIT PETITION} WITHOUT^COSTS.

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G? al \oQrL
//
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THE HONOURABLE SRI JUSTICE C.V. BHASKAR REDDY

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2312013 3427 l20rs. 457421 2022, 4650512022. r52, 11 27, tAOg. 1935, 2729,27 35,2954, 3124, 3758 37a4 4150 4297 4304 4330 4562 46A0 5084 5097 5147 5149 6510 6523 7L89 7297 74A5 75o4 7949 7963 8t17, a226, a246,826a, 8498, 8509, 8564,9558, tol22, lo24L, rO425. ro77s, lo8 14, r1()()8, 11213. 11463, 12360. I24a2 14L29 14134 1s706 r6172 16839 L7917 18351 taa29 19005 19()51 19742,2228a,22292,22305. 2373a, 23492 24696 25044 25A36 26L72 27223 27761 and, 30952 of 2023

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COMMON ORDER:

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Since the issue rrtvolr,<'rl it-r all these Writ petitions is intrinsically interconr-rccrecl, thev are being taken up ald heard together and disposed of ltv this r.omnton order.

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As the resltondents havc Iilt'cl consolidated counter affidavit in Writ Petition No.465O5 ol 2Oc2. rl.re said Writ petition is taken up as a leading case.

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W-P.No.46505 of 2022 rs lilercl under Article 226 of the

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Constitution of lndia, set'l<ing tlrc tbllowing relief:

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"to po.s-s orr <trclt'r, dirc<1rln (), ll^jrl pertiellarlg in the nature of Wnt oJ Man<lcunus directlng tlic t,5]x),r(1(,, r l s lrr<,in Io allow the petttiotler herein to scrue ltoctk<th Dr his cslrr,trlrs/rttt,nt li<,clU es long as he fouows the "CigcLrc'ttes qncl Oth<:r^'l'titrtt <tt l,trtlrtt.ts (l,rohib{tion of Ad.uertisement ancl Rt'rlrtlatrott of Trct<l<.(ttnrrrtt.rt,.strl\ q atrcl Distribution) Act, 2OO3 attd ntles at\7 lhat llrc 1x'trtitttt r lt<' Qllou)L'tl to Serue hookah in open .L-e(]-s r/rl./ srtioA_trrr7 zortcs (trrrl t,r r-i5,/( ,(,(.('--s(t rg directions to the effect that rut coercir<, ection ol . tlLt t,ttitu(, <,u.Jltt to be initiated oLgo:inst the petltt(rtt( r or lris eslrr/rIs]rtnt, t t,outt itt /r,r,.sir7n Sky Bar" lOcqted in MatllutJ>ttr^"

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The <:ase of the^{petitioner is that he is running the rcstaurant} under the name and^{style 'ResignSky Bar' since manyyeerrsand} also obtair: ed trade^{license from the Greater Hyderabad Municipal} Corporation, Hyderabad.^{It is further case of the petitionerthat} owners of certain restaurants^{had Iiled Writ Petition No 32O2 of 2014} and bzLtch on the file of this^{Court, wherein this Court vidc common} order dateC 27 .O7.2O17 , allowed the^{petitioners thereinto scrve} Hookah as long as they^{follow rulesand regulationsand alsothe} conditions stipulated therein like^{having CCTV camerasatld not} sening to minors etc.,. It^{is further case of the petitioncr that evcn} tholLgh the restaurzrnt owners are^{following the rules:rnd regulations} as prescri;ed under the Cigarettes and^{Other TobaccoProducts} (Prohibition of Advertisement and Regulation of Trade^Commerce Supply:rnrl Distribution) Act, 2OO3^(for short^{"COTP Ar:t, 2O03"), the} tasl< frrrce rolice under the control of^{respondent No.2 arrc r.'isitingthe} busincss p,lace and foisting false cases with^{a malahde itlteutiou to} force the^()wners of the business establishments to shut^{dowu the} hool<:ih sates zrnd ttsage. It is further case^{of the petitionerthat the} owncrs of .he rcstaurants again approached^{this Courtancl filccl Writ} Petition !.P.Ncrs.2206O and 23213 of 2Ol7 and this^Courtvicle corrrnon order dated 02.O8.2077 disposed of the^{saiclWrit Petitiolls} and orclered that the restaurant owners are frec lo ruu their

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rcstaurants as per rulcs^{and regulations and that if police takesan-v} steps, thc pctitioners^{therein were given liberty to approachthe} Director General of^{Police/CommissionerofPolice and lodge} complaint regarding^{illegal interferenceof ofhcers. It is further case} of the petitioner that^{eventhough restaurant ownersare running} I-rookah Ccntres strictly^{inconformity with the directionsissuedby} this Court, the^{respondents-policeare raiding tl-re hookah Ccntrcs} arrd regislering^{false cases under S€ctions 188, 270, 272 and 328} IPC. It is further case of^{petitionerthat casesunder aforesaid} Sections cannot be^{irled against the restaurantownersi[ they scrvc} hook:rh to their customers^{and that thereis no gelreral ban on selling} tollacco :rnd tobacco^{products. It is further case o[ the petitioners} thurtownersoftherestaurantsfiledCriminalPetitionsvide Crl.P.No.5619 of 2O2O^{and batch on the irle of this Courtseckingto} quersh the proceedings^{inrespective Crimes/CalendarCarscs/} Sessions Cases^{registered for the offencesunder Sections188, 269'} 270,272,273,328,336^{&420 read with 34, 149,5I1 0f IPC;} Scctions 3(m), 2O(2), 2l(tl,^{21(2}, 22, 7 (31 and 7(5) of the COTP Act'} 2OO3 ancl Sections 58^{and 59(i) of the Food SafetvanclStanctards} Ar:t, 2006^(for short^{'FSSAct').This Court videcommon order dated} 1O .O().2022, allowed the^{said Criminal Petitions, quashingthe} 1.lrocee<lings^{in therespective Crimes/CalendzrrCases/Sessions}

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Cases in^{terms of the common orcler, datedO5.o7 .2021 passedin} Mohd.. Jameet^{Ahnedus- Stote of Telanganor. It is fr-rrther case of} the petitioners^{that since there is rro prohibitiorr urlderCOTPAct,} 2OO3 to^{serve hookah,interference b-y therespondents-police} amounts to^{violationof the rights guaranteed underArtrcle 19(1)(g)of} the Constitrrtion^{of India and also the provisionsof COTP Act, 2003.}

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A consolidated^{counter affidavithas bccn filed bythe} respondent^{Nos.1 to 5 in W.P.No.4 650512022, whereininter alia it is} stated that^{the petitioners are seekiug to give a direction to permit} running of^{''HookahParlour"at-rcl sen'ir-rgof Hrxrkahin Restaurants} beyond the^{areas designatedb]' thc statute. lt is furtlrcrstated that} the details tf^{those Hookah Centrcs} /^{Hookal-r Parlours} /^{I Iookah Bars} are conspicuously^{missing.Thc petitiorlers \f ithoutmelrtioningthat} they are complying with^variotts stirttrtorl^{pt rrvtsionsof COTPAct,} 2OO3, have simpiy^averred that^they' are^{sen,ing hookah in their} premises. 11 is further stated that n() st:rtutc or rcgr,rlation refers to Hookah Centres/Hookah Parlo^r.rrs /^{I loo} [<:rh l;ars. In the counter affidavit, t1e respondents h:rvc relerred various constitutional provisions ::elating to hezrlth ancl right to life. It is stated by the respondentr; that as per Article 21 of the Constitution of [ndia, it is the respon:;ibility of the Govcrntncnt to clircct its policy towards

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'^{)o2zcrtts 642}

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securing tender^{age children ancl givc thcnl opportunities to dcvelop} in a healthY^manner. It is ftLrthcr^{st:rtcd thzrt World Health} Conventiott on^{TobaccoControl (WHO} Organization^Framework FCTC) and its^{guidelinesprovidethe foundationfor countriesto} implement^{and manage tobacco cotrtrol Tl-re WI{O has introduced} MPOWER measures^{which corresptttlclto ottc or morc articlesof the} Framework^{Convention, to assist in rcclucirlg the rJemand for tobacco} prodr.r.cts at country-level^{lt is lirrther stiltedthat hookahsare} smoked in a closed^{cabins or roonts ancl l)crsonsrvho smoke' sit for} hours together^{and inhale much ttrorc snlol<eth:rn those who smoke} cigarette for 3^{to 4 minutes lt is llrrth€rr stirtc'l that Hookahs} sometimes called^{\paterpipes'ancl thev ar(' used to smokespecially} made tobacco^{that is available in:r varictt' ol flavors' such as apple'} Iicorice,^{caPPuccino, and} mint, cherry,^{chocolate,cocon tl t,} watermelon. It is^{further stated tllat} l{<,rol<ah srnoking^{is typically} practiced in^{groups,with the sanre tnout l-tpiece passed from person} to person.^{Waterpipe smoking tleliversI he :iddlclive drug nicotine} and it is as toxic^{as clgarette smrlkc ltncl (lt:c to the mode o[ smoking} including^{frequencyof puf{ing, de'ptlr of inllnl:rtion' and length of the} smoking session,^{hookah smoket s ttlnt' ltlrsorblrrgher concentration} of the toxins^{found in cigarettestttttkc tt is flrther stated that a} typical one hour^{long hookzrh sl)l()lirrISs(:'sloll ttlvolt'esinhaling10O-}

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2OO times thc voltrutc of srnoke inhalcd from a single cigarette. Hookah sr:tol<crs arc ert risk for thc same kinds of diseases that are caused by cigarette srnoking. including oral cancer, lung cancer, stomach canccr, cancer of t lte esol)hagus, reduced lung lunction, and decrezLsed fertilitv. I{ooki.rh smoking is Nor a safe alternative to smoking crgarcttes. The char<oal uscd to heat tobacco in the hookah increases rhc hcalth risks. [ir,,cn z.rftc: r it has passed through water, the smoke produc;ed l;,f ii hookah contains high levet of toxic compound;, including r.:rr-ltorr rnonoxide, heavy metals, and cancer causing chenticals arrrl thtrs pra-r,ccl to dismiss the writ petitions.

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Heard both siclcs ancl pcr-rsccl the rccord.

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The learned corrnsel lbr- thc pctitioner submitted that the respondenr s-p.lice :rrc frccltre.trv i'rtcrfering with the petitioner,s business activil-,ol- scrving ltookah in thc dcsignated smoking area in the rest:Lura.t anrl l)lLrv.'.tl.g thr: 1;ctitioner from doing trade. It is further sui)milted thill the ;rr.lrrn of the respondents in asking the petitioner to stop ofli:r rrg [-ror.rk:rh i, the absence of any material to show that -he brrsincss is ir-r vrolation of the guidelines prescribed by the Apex Court in Narinder S. Chadha o. Municipal Corporation of Greate r Mum-baiz :rnrl tltc COTp Act, 20O3, amounts to

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t (2ot+) ts scc csq

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infringcment of funcl:rmcntal rishts :rnd the same is illegal and improper. Learned counsel subnrits that continuous interference of the respondents is causing irleparable damage and harassment to the petitloner and to thc reputation of business. Learned counsel further submitted that in caten:r o[ cases, this Court has clearly in unambiguous tcrms statecl that police under the guise of implementing the rcgulal ion sl-rall not resort to cause inconvenience or any harassment to the cllslorner/l)erson present there or to the owner of the restaurant, \,hen lhc brrsiness is lawful and legal, there cannot be any prohibition. [t is 1'rrrth<'r subn-ritted that the petitioner is holding all the requirccl lic< rrst's srrch as GST, Sales Tax, Food, Trade, Labour etc., and also paicl rdvance ta-x. It is further submitted that the respondents are not h:rving power to interfere with the petitioner's business activit,r. irs Iong ars hc follows the guide'lines issued by the Hon'ble Strl;remc Cour t in Narind.er S Chadha's case (supra) and also the provisiorrs of COTP Act and the regulations made thereunder. Thus the k,iu rrerl counsel prayed this Court to allow the wrrt petitions ars pravcrl lirr.

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8- On the other hzrncl, thc lr':rrncd Spccial Government Pleader for Home appe:rring for thc rcsporrrlcnl s opposed the writ petition and relied upon the provisiorrs ol St'r'rr,rrrs l. 5, 6, 7, a, 9, 1O, I l, 13, i5, 17 and 18 of COTP Act. 2OO.l. llc rrrqrrecl that COTP Act, 2003 has

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not^{onlyincluded cigaret tes likeCigarettes(Regulatronsof} Production,^{Sr-rpply and Distribution)Act'1975 but also bror'rghtall} other^{forms of tobaccoproducts(both smokingand smolceless)i} Prohibition^{of smok:ingin publicplaces; Imposing nationwide public} smoking^{buand specihed particularplaces as non-smokingzones;} Ban^{on tollacco adverttslngand sponsorship; Ban on sale to minors} and in^{an area vzithin radius of10O yards of any educatt} onal institutior ;^{Display'rng of pictorialheaith-warning labels; That} the specified^{health warningsmust occupy at least 4O"hof the prin} cipal displzry^{arcar on the front panel of the pockets'and shall be ro} Iatcd months;^{that the law also prohibitedmorc than} two every^l2 Iang-ragc;^{from being used on the pack toensure that sPecified} ed that^r'vith warning^{is legrble zrnd prominent' It is furtherslrbmltt} effect^{frcnr2nd October' 2012' t]ne Government begans} crccning^trvo d tclcvisiot-t anti-tobacco^{advertisementsinmovietheatres an} Nicotine^{and Tar contentsof all tobacco products must bc clearlv} displaye^{d ou the packs'Producers of tobaccoproductslnust ensure} that th'lsc^{l'rarmful contents are within the maximr'rm pcrmissiblc} limits^{: s prcscribed by the rules' The learned Special Government} Plc:rcler^{ftrrther suL'mitted that Rule 4 of the Prohibitionof Snroking} rn I'ublic^{Places Rules' 2008 (for short "Rules' 20O8") niarrcl;rtes that} the^{olv Ller.} Irl^{oprietor' manager' supervisor or in-charge of the alTair-s}

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of a hotel having^{thirty or more roomsor restaurant havingscattng} capacity^{of thirty personsor more and the manager of the airport} may provide^{for a smoking area or spaceas deirned in rule 2(e)' As} per Rule 4(3), no^{serviceshall be allowedin any smoking area or} space^{providedfor smoking Therefore' no ash trays'lighters'} matchcs or^{other things to facilitate smoking are to be providedin a} public place^as per Rule 3(c)^{of the Rules, 2008 lt isfurthcr} IS submitted^that as per Rule^{a (a)(a), smokingin public places} completely^{banuedand for a personvisitinga Restaurant or a Hotel} sertisfying tllc^{statutory requirement'the Hotel or Restaurant may} dcsignatc^{a separatc area or space as per the defrnition of smoking} area in Rule^{2(e) and such a person visitingthe hotelor a Restaurant} is free to smoke^{in the designatedsmokingarea The Restaurant or} the Hotel^{u,ill not provide any smokingapparatus or anything that} aids smoking.^{It is further submitted that RuIe 3 (t)(c) specihcally} places a bar on^{the owner, proprietor'manager' supervisor or} incharge of the^{affairs of publicplace to ensurethat no ashtrays'} matches, lighters^{or other thingsdesignedto facilitatesmoking arc} 1lrovicled^{rn thc publicplace,therefore the necessarycoroll:rrythat} ,"r,ould follorv is that, there^{cannot be activeparticipation of thc} persons ilrcharge^{of managinga restaurant or a hotel to provicle} snroking ards.^{As such smokingof hookah cannot be aided by the}

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restaurant or a hotel mercly sincc it has a smoking room attached to it. It is further submitted that u,hat cannot be permitted in the public area of a restaurant cannot be stretched to mean tl'rat it can be provided ir. the smoking area- It is lurther submittecl that the Trade Iicences olrtained by the petitioners from the Greater Hyderabad Municipal 3orporation, does not disclose that they have been issued after a de,:laration that they are running "Hookah Centres". The learned Slrecial Government Pleader relied upon Sectiorr 521 of GHMC Act, whrch specihcally statr:s that no person shall without licence keep, in or upon any prentises, for salc or frrr other than domestic L se, any article specified in Part UI of Schr:dulc P- It is further su lmitted that Charcoal, rvhich is uscd to lacilitate the smoking of the Hookah is an Article mentioned in Part III of Schedule P. The use of charcoal for the purpose <;f Hookah snrr.rlirng is very dangerous and can pose a risk of fire accrdcnts 2rpart fronr crcating a nuisance to the persons who may visit the Restauraltt or ttotel. It is further sut mitted that the licences of the petit ioners do r)ot disclose that they .rave filed declaration that the,v intcndcd to us<-- Trade Licences tc permit Hookah smokirrg. There is no or:casion for the Municipal luthorities to consicicr this aspect Thc learnr:d Special Government Pleader further subrnitted that even thorrgh earlier batch of ca;es have been disposcd ot'by thrs Court. tl-rc rssrres raised

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in these writ petitions are not specifically adverted and this Court has not taken into consideration that Ilookah is also a^Tobacco product and the provisions of COTP Act, 2003 apply. It is further submitted that prayer sought in these $,rit^{petitions is} in^{the nature} of restraining the authorities from inspecting the^{premises where} Hookah centres are being run and in fact as^per the^{provisions of} Hyderabad City Police Act, 1345 Fasli, tl're^police has^{power to} inspect any public place for the offences cornmitted^{under the said} Act, i.e, exposing of body in ittclecent manner,^possessionof suspected articles, indecent acts in strccts^{etc., crclmmittingnuisance} in or near public place. It is further submitted th:rt^sincethe observations made in the earlier batch^{of cascsdoes not specifically} restrain or declare the powers exer<'ised^b1' the^{policeoflicers as} illegal, the police officers are entitled to supervise^{and inspect,seize} and seal the petitioners establishments^{i[ an-' violation is being found} under Section 12 of COTP Act. Since^{the orders passedin the earlier} writ petitions, does not give blanket^protection or^{recognizes the} independent existence of^{"HookahCetrtrcs",the judgmcnts relied} upon by the petitioners are not helpfirl^{to ttre c:rsc o[ tl-repetitioners} and therefore, the learned Special^(iivt:rnmen t^{Plcaderpraycd for} dismissal of the writ petitions.

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g. It is apt and appropriatc to cxtract^{some of the relevant}

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provisions of CO'IP At:t. 2O03,^{rvhir:h arezrs follows}

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"3.^{DeJ-t,r:itio.as.--1nIhi.s,1.1.ttrr/e.s.s lltr: canltextot.heraDiserequtres,}

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(a)^{"aduerlisenrctri:'} inch.dcs o[g t,t-siDle^{representatlonbg way of notice,} circulan, label, trr(lppcr ctr other^{tlocumet and also includesang} annout.cefitenl nocle orolltl ot^ltq otr4^{rrtectns of producingor transmitting} light, sttuttcl, -srnokc or go.s;

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(b) "cigttre tte^" inclucl e s,

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(i) an 1 roll of tobocco rt,rctpped ut peper or in anA other substance not containing tob1cco,

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(ii) ar g rotl oJ Lobec,l u ,.<tlrped rn rtny substance contcining tobacco, which, bg rea.son of rrs eplx)Qren( e. t1rc tApe. of^tobaccoused in^the filter, or fts packagrn-e o.ncl lal].llrtttl r.s lrkc/t7 lo be^{olfuredto, or purchasedbg,} consunLers os cigerctte. bkl rl.).r-s not t(lude^{bcedi, cherootandcigar;}

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(d) "expott", Lt)tth its qrentnleltc.ol t.eriations and cognate expressions, means toking out oJ lidte to e ple<'. rtrttside India;

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(e)^'for=ign larrqttcLqt' rr.(ri-s a lttrtrTtctcle: trhtch is neither an Indien languaTe nor thc Etllltsll lor(Juct(tc.

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A^{"im|'or1", totlt ils} llteiittalic.tl^{o.u icttiotts ond cognateexpressions,} means bringuLgl ttlo htdrrt li ctt,] rL 1t[ut't' outsule htdia;

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(g) "lndian LontlLrctglt: l,r('ri,r-s (i krrttTrrrtlc sltccrfted in the Eighth Schedule to tfe. Oonstdtlltofu, rurrl urrirrrlr'-s t,rt1 ch<rle.<'l of such lartguaqe;

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(h) "tabel" rr(-'o,r.! (iIrl u'ntt( . Dt.tlkccL. sktmped, pinted or graphic matter, affLrell Lo, or eppceinq tt1>ott. cLttq package;

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(i)^"pac tage tnclu.:7cs a trtel)(it.l)o'. cortotL. titT or other container;

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(j) "pre:;cribed rnerrrrs irr t'scr rlrt,rl lttl tL.rles rnade under this Act;

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(k) "productt(Dt. tutLlt tls .ltautntatical uariations and cognate expres.;ions, r,r.fti.l('.s l/r., rnctkrtrtl ol'rtqttr<:ttcs, cigars, cheroots, beedis, cigoret e toba..o, ptl)c tolxtcco. ltoLtLttlt tobacco, chewing tobacco, pan masalc or oiU cltc.rtttnq tr1.rl.t lul lt(itit^(l lobacco as one of its ingredients (blJ whlteuer nurn<'cqllt'tll ot sttrtt'l ctrttl shall irLclude-

¶98

(t) packncl. krltc lluttt rtr rL lu!x lltnrt. r)l⁽ o,rloi,lcr.s

¶99

¶100

(ti) re-packing from buLk packoclr,s to r<rctil p(lckaqes; r.nd

¶101

(iri) the adoption of onq other ,lethod kt render the tobacco product marketable:

¶102

l!..'!i6]:*^ploce.' ,means^{atrtlltkt<-eto tuhtch the public huueaccess,} wtLelner os oJ nght or not, atul rrrr.furrles ouditorium, hospitat bu dings, railulag ruaiting room, omuse]7(,t.rr c(,nlr<,-s, resteuronts, pubtic offices, court buildinqs, edLrcetiottal irslilirfro,r-s, libraies, prblii ,unr.gon ." and the like which are t,isitcd bu tlt,rtt,rtL[ ltultlic b"; ;o"; noi includ"e ang open spqce;

¶103

(m) "sale", with its qromnalrc( /,.orLtions and. cognate expressions, means ang transfer of prc)p<,t|LI rrL rlctods bg one person to another, tuhether for cash or on (.ra(lt. c,, bij tt,cttl iJ .*rnirrgi, ond u.thether wholesale or retail, and inclutlt,s ,,,, ,rr1r".rnlnt yo, .ii, i,na offer for sale and exposure for sole:;

¶104

(n) "smokmg", .mectns smokinq oj' tobacc]o it ang fonn uhether in the form of cigarette, cigar, beeths or otherLt,rse u\th 1; ;id of a pipe, urapper or anu other instruments.

¶105

(o) "specifed utarnincl' nrcairis .Jrrclr ttlarnings aqo.inst the use of cigorettes or other tolxtccct

¶106

products to be pnnted, pttittt<'tl ,tt ttrscnlx:rl on packages of agarettes or other tobacco products it

¶107

such form and manner cLs nrtrl bc 1tr<'s,::rtbe:tl bg ntles made under this Act;

¶108

(p) "tobacco producrs " ,,C(]nS Ilrc J)t o( lt t(.Is slt<,c:rftecl in the Schedule.

¶109

Prohibition oJ stnoking in a public place...No person stlrLll smoke in any public place:

¶110

Prouided that in a hotel haatrcl tlutrtt rootns or a restaurant houing seati.ng capacitg of thinq persons rtr tnorc Qttcl in the airpois, a separate prouision Jbr smokitq urea or slxt.t, ttLtL4 Itc ltocle.

¶111

Prohibition of ddaertisement oJ cigqrettes and. other tobo.cco products -(1) No person engtttl<,Ll tL. ot l)urpotlecl to he engaged in the productiott, supply or distt.ibulton ()l (jtft(.ttes or ang oiher tobacco products sholl aciucftisc encl rto ltt,tsort lLctyrnrJ control ouer a medium shall causc to be ttcl|t.t]rst rJ ct(t(Ltt, t,. or cLtLtl other tobacco products through.lhat ,medtum rtntl no pcr:r, slul[ trtke part in anA aduertisement which dtrectlg or indir(:ctli -sr1.rr./.,sls (rt l)toD1()les [he use or consumption of ctgqrettes or onA otller tobec<tt ltrrtlrul-.

¶112

(2) No person, for c.tlLl (ltr.'ct ot trtrlu(t I l)rt\ut(LtU benefit, shall-

¶113

1.+

¶114

(al hisptcty,^{causeto displcttl"tr pcrmit or authoriseto dispLQllcttl!'l} adt'tni,,^{nrcttt L,l tlgutctlcsor aiq oth"r toboccoproducl: or}

¶115

ltl^{sell orcorrsc ro sell, or tterntit or authonseto sella lilm or t'idao} lof)e co'tL(to7ltl(J^{otluerttsentetlt[1 ciqa'eues or onAolher tobc\cco producL;} ,^' 1,.ttt1,tc .,rIr-se Io dt\IihLtle'^{or pcrmil ot outhoiselo dtstiltutc} ," ,l::';:,';;I"':,,u"i',."t.,'i'"n"'''i"ilt'^{ni ao*'"nt uhich is or u'htcl'l} i-IrrrJri""',"1*^{,ii..^.ntol riarrettcsor ana othertobacco Producl: or}

¶116

((t) arecI, arhibit, ftx^{or retrLir.upon or ouer ang land'b,uildino' u'all'} hoarditlq, ft^{(1me,posto' t'*li'un' i'uponor iiany uehicle or slwlL} ,4icrlol in^{(tntl m(lnner *t'otJoZ'"'-i" ing plo'e ang aduertisemertof} .iilrr, .'^{o, anll thcr robacco Producl:}

¶117

ProuitTt:cl lhat^tili-s -sub^{section shc.llnot applAin relqtion to-}

¶118

tttt o lllL-,]flt-t'nt'^{ttt of cftorctlcsor QnA othc,r toboccoproducl in ot ott o} ';";;':,,;; , ",,;:,','in', ''ro-.''o.ot ans^{other tobqcco} Product:

¶119

fbl^{od )crliscnlen t ofclgarettesor qnAother toboccoproduct tuhichr's} rlisltlcL 1<'t1.^{(fitl'Le entrctnce} ,^u'intia"" "^warehouse -or^{a .shopulrcre} cl(]orc^{IC.scLtttlctntl otne, tont;.coproductsare offeredfor distibutionor} -salt'.

¶120

/3/ l\o,r).r-so,r,^{sluLll, unclt:rd contractor otheruise promote or aqrce to} pt,trrt, t', tlte,,s,^{ot tottsuntplionoI}

¶121

(a) c g(tr('tlcs ot^{anAotl'Lertoboccoproduct;or}

¶122

','' ""t'^{tt'1t1'ntctrkor brundnamcof cigoretlasor onAotltcr tttbtttto} ',',,ir,,',',',',',1,i.,,.1n,,nq"-p, o spontorshrp' gtfl' priza or scholarshiP 'ttt.'n 'u, u 1,, , ,l t,t l'< Itit'ctl bA another pcrson

¶123

Prohibitio^^{on sale o! cigaretteorother-tobacco.Products to o} "p.)r,i"'i"i"- ,n* og" oi 'iiiii""n sears o.nd ': :l::'-' qreo No pcrscn slrrr/l^{sell, <tller} Jor "iti, ",,^{pzrr"itsale of,cigarette or attq olher} tol)Q( d) Proallt<:t

¶124

(a) o ontl p(rsor.^{uthois unrTeretghteen Aears of age'ond}

¶125

(l)) t\ utt^{(n ('(1 Luithin o rodiusof one hundredgard-sof ang educollorLal} irr-s tlultott

¶126

R2strictions^{on trc.de ci'id comritercein' and ptoduction' supplg} crftd distribution^o7 "igo'iit"t^{and other tobo.ccoproduct's 11) No} --,.,,, ',1',,,^{strrr// (ltectlu(tr indtecttg'produce' supplg ordr-sttrhlilc} ')1,,',,', -"'.'.,,,' ,,,;,:;;^{';;;.; ,";;"o pi,,dla"} robacci^{p'oducts, untess euery ptoduced' su1'ptnd PLtct')'t'"lot} :i::,; ;;;:^{I ',,,:,,:,t ,'i'"} iilr,,,r"i.,, 'ti,,, i',r;'trn"ra, thereon, or in its tabel such specilietl tt'atrLttrc1 ;,;;';; ,i'',,;^,, 1,.1,,,,cr|^{rt'ttnring as mctg be prescibed'}

¶127

¶128

(2). No pcrson shall carrg on trade or comnrerce tn ctgarettes or anA other k)becco products unless euenl pockoge of cigaretfes-or anll other tobacco prodrrr:l-s sold, srtpplied or distibutecl bg hirn bears thireon, or on ts lobel, tlrc specifed uuning.

¶129

(3) No person sltall import cigarcttes or anll other tobacco products for distibltt@n or supplA for a ualuoble considerqtion or for iale in India rrnlc.ss e.,cry package of ctgarettes or any other tobacco products so inportcd bq hlm bears thereon, or on its tab;l, the specified u)urnng.

¶130

(4) The spcctfied wantinq shall appear on not less thc.n one of thc largest ltonels^{of the package} in which agarettes or^qnA othq tobacco products ltoue been packed for distibutton, sale or supplg for o ualuable considerutrcn-

¶131

(5) No p<,rson shall, clirecllg or indirectlg, produce, supplA or distribute cigarett"s or ang other tobocco products unless iiery package ol ciqerettes or ang other tobacco proclucts produc:ed, iupptiia ir distr )ttted lrq him indicstes thercon, or on its tabet, the nicotiie and tar c.)rlcnf.s ott eaclT ciqarettc or cts the case maA be on other tobacco prrtdu(1s alonq uL[ttt the rtaximum pcrmissible limits thereof:

¶132

Prourdc<l lhat the nicotine oncl tar contents shc,ll not exccecl thc tna\imutn pcrmi-ssrble quantita thereof as mag be prescibed bA rules ntocle undcr this Act.

¶133

Testing laboratory Jor nicotine and. tar contents. F(,r pltrposes ol tcsntiq Llrc nicoltne end tar contents in cigqrettes and anq otht:r t()l)ncco prodLtcls thc Ccntral Gouernment shall bg nottrtcation in thc Ollictel^(;eze.tte gront recognition to such testing laboiatorg as that (ittrtet r11n1,711 mag deenl necessarg.

¶134

Power of entry and. search.-(l) Any potice olficer, not below thc rottk of a sub-inspector or ang officer of State Food or Dnrcl A(l.nlutistrQttotl or enll othcr offccr, holding the equiualent rank beiq not lrlotu lllc ratrk of Sub Inspector of police, authoise side bA the Central ()ot'c'rnnv,nl or bg tlrc State Gouernment may, if he has ang reoson to .sk.spect llrat ang proulsion of tllis Act has been, or ts being, contreL)ened, ent<,r an(l scarch in the manner prescrlbed, at any reasoiable liirc, on!.1 lctt'tory, ltrtiklinq, busirre.ss premiscs or any other place,

¶135

la)^{t L,lu't (,} ang trade or commerce in cigarettes or any otlrcr lobacco /)ro.lrtcas^{ts carried on} or cigarettes or ang other tobacco producls are l)roclltc(l,^{supplied or} dstibuted; or

¶136

(lrJ utlt<'ra anq aduerTisement of the cigqrettes or any other tobacco lrrorlrr.t.s^{ll/|s been} or is being mude.

¶137

12)^'l-|rc pn)t\sions of tl1" Code of Ciminal procedure, 1973 (2 of 1974). sltoll aJytlrl to et'erg search and seizure mode under thts Act_

¶138

I(r

¶139

Pouer to seize.-(1) IJ'ttny poli<'t: ol.'ficcr, not ttt:ktu, the nttrk of o srtlt inspect<'r or anV olrtcer of SloLe F<xxl or Dntq Admirtstratiott or onLt^()tl(r olficer, lrclding tLLc equiualenl rotrk bcitl tlot bclolrt thc ntttk ol Srtb [nspectr of Police, authoisccl by llr<'C<:ntrQl Goucrntnetl or^I)u tllc Slele Gouerntflent, has ang reason to belK't'c ll1ul.-

¶140

(ct) in respect of anA pqckagc oJ crclQrettes ot^(ft7A olltct tolxt('('o produ)ls, or

¶141

(b) in respect of qng^{qducrtiseDt<:nl} oJ ctqerettcs (tr^qtLg olllcr tol)acco produ.ts,

¶142

the pro,)tsions of this Act lLoue been. or are beirtg, cotatrauetrc(1, he tnall seize sL,ih package or aduertisemettt tiatenal ut LlTe trlanner pnr.scribt,d.

¶143

(2) No package of cigatettes or enU otlter lobacco pro(ltLcls or aduerti:;ement mateial se4ed undcr cl.tusc (a1 oJ sub-sectiott (11 sholl bc: retainerl by the oJficer who scized lltc ltackagc or aducrt$antrtlt nudantll for^{a pciodexcecding ninetgclalJs} fnnt^{tltc delc of the} -s.,rzrlrc^u/rl(,s-s lhe approual of the Distict Juclqe, t,''itlun tlrc. kx'al ltmrts o/- rr,/ro.se .lurisdrclon^{such seizurearrasrna(l(,,ltqs be<,tt} obtaotcLI ,rbr^.srrc'h retention.

¶144

ConJiscation ol package ArtLl 1la<'kuqe of cLqtr"tt{s t)t (o1!l trtJr.,r lobocca products or ang acluertisctncnt nvltcnul ol.tqarcttcs or curtl ol)r<,r tobacca products, in respect of ulliclt rrntl J>rouisuttr of lltts t\cl h(.s /)(,i,rr or is being contrauened, shall be lial <t to hc d,nfiscuted:

¶145

Prouided thot, u,here il is e-stalrlis/rc(l lo fi rc .salrs/trctit)n t)l tlic d)Lt'l adjudg ng the cottfi.scatiort that tl'tc l)crson rn tlhosr'po.s-s('.svr),1. pr)rr)cr or conti-ol ang such package of ciqetcttcs ()r enLt t)tltcr tol)ec(.1) pro(lkcls i.s /oun,l is not respon-sible for thc contrat,anttott ol tltc prorrs(rrr.s o/ l/rrs Act, tht, Coutt meA, instead of nakirttl arr or<ler li)r the confis(elio of sucll p(rckage, meke such other or(l( t tulloris<'tl t)q this Ad eqllttlsl tlt(' person guiUA of the breach of the pro|isrorr-s (r-tlUs A(.1 as Lt t(tU l,i\ llL

¶146

Confi.scqtioa not to interfere uith other punish.,1.ents -){o confi.sattion mad.e, costs ordered to ltc 1:tutl uruTer t/?ls Acl slt(/// Pr.'r,(,,r1 the infliction of ang punishment to t|lticlt tlr< person afJect(l tl](,rcl,4 ts liable under the prouislons of this Act or utul<'r ctn ll otlrcr laut

¶147

Punishmznt lor failure to gitte specilied warning arr.d nicotine and htr co,rtents.-(1) Ang perscttr ttlro prodttct's or nt\nt t.fitdu r(.s coaretles or tobacco products, tLltich tlo noL co lai\ etlrc,, o,t the package or on their label, the speciJicd wttr ttitrcl and tlTe nr(l)tut(. atltl ter contenls, shall in tLLe cose oJ' Jirst contitcttotl l)<, pu isltibl! tL,ttlt impiscnment for a tefln LDhich Dl.U/ ( \l(,n(,/ lo t11,.) !/eQr-s. ()r t ltll lir1. which naV extend to ftue lhotLscttrtl ,?l/).'.'s. or uittt both. rtrtrl lot tlic second or subsequent conuictiotl, rr.,itlr trrtpnsortntc,tl for e trrnr ttllclL mag eaend to Jiue gearc and u'ttl1 littt, tttlriclt tnay <:.ttt rttl to t<,tr thousa vi rupees.

¶148

¶149

(2) Ang person u.tho seLls or dislrtbutcs dqQrcttes or tobecco pro<iucls uthich do not contain either on tlrc packoqc or on tlrcir label, the speci,fi.ed utorning and the nicotine and tar cont.,,tts sluil tn tLLe casc of Jirst conuiction be punishable with in;:isorurrcnt Ior (r terrn, tuhicli may extend to one Aear, or uith f.ne ruhiclt nta q "\tend to one thousand tupees, or uith both, and, for tlrc second or srzl)-serTrrerrl conuiclion, tuith impisonment Jor a term whrch ntag e.rterul to tt.uo tlcors and utith fine which mag exlend to three thousand ntlx c:

¶150

Punishtnent Jor srnoking in certoJr. places. (l) Whoeuer conlrouenes the proutstons of section I slrcll be punishable LLrth frne which may ertend to two hundred rupees.

¶151

(2) An olfence under thts section shall be corrtpoLuulable and shall be tied summaily in^qccordance witlt tha proc<tlrtre pror.,itlacl for sumntary trials in the Code of Ciminal Proccdure, 197.J (2 of I <)71)

¶152

On earlier occasions, idcntical issrLcs to the czrses on hand, came up for consideration beforc this Corrr.t in W.P.No.3202 of 2Ol4 and batch, W.P.No. 14093 of 2011, W.P.No.4942 of 2Ot2, and. W.P.Nos.22O60 of 2OI7 arrd 23213 ot 2Ol7

¶153

1I. In Writ Petition No.32O2 of 2Ol4 ancl bar(.h. this Court dealt with a similar situation where the llolicc were inte rfering with the business activities of the petitioners therein, in serving flavoured hookah in their coffee shops. Dealing s,ith rhe serid aspect and also taking into consideration various provisions ol- tlte COTP Act, the pctitioners cases were rejected, holding as Lrnclcr:

¶154

'16. Insofar as the interkr<'ttce of tlt< 1tLtlic.<: on cott< <'rn<'cl, rt is penlnent to note that the prouisio,ts of S<,t.tutrt 1) .)i t]t,' CO't P A.t ut\fer pouers to the pollce not belou thc rank ol !)tlt 1t15711 q.11'1 o.1 l,oltcc or ang orffrccr of the State Food or Dntg Acl utusttett()tt ot'^.utrl (rtlt('r ofrtcer, hotrling the cquiualent rank betnq ttot l)clt)tt !ltt. tulL (,1 Sul) ltLslrcctor of Polrce authorized bA the CentraL (iotcttrrtrt' lr It lttl tht ::tQt(, (;('r(,r,tnrcnt,

¶155

¶156

mag, iJ he lras olrl^{rcesottl().sll.';Ir('.1 l/l(ll anq prouision of /.Iris Actho.s} been or is beingl c:cnt.rauct^r<'tl .^{( ttlcr Qtl.l} -sc(.rch^{in the- mannerprescibed} at anA easonoblc tine ot -faclot^{tl. ltutltlrtrl,busitre.s-s or angother place-}

¶157

In the lqhl of tltts 1tt^{ctlrstt't1 andSectic)n 149 Cr.P.C.,the} contentton of tl'te lecrrncd^(iriltst'/ ,irr^Lhc Petitiotl'ers^{thQt thco,ctsof the} Police ..mount to ittJ'nnq.lrlc rl^ttl lirrtclunrcital^{riglhts and that the} Police are no the conTPetent autltotlllt.^{bul ir i-s ortly the G-H M.Cthat is} compet)nt to Lntcrkre uiLlt lltc^bt1.stDcs.s of^{the petitioners,uho are} seruing Hookhas, .loes not ltat*'^cLtr!! .litrce.^{Therefore,this Coutt is of the} uieu thqt under Section 12 oJ ll.. Acr^{(I r1.l Section 149 Cr.P.C.,thepotice} includitq the other outhontics us otttltttizcd^{bg both Centraland State} Gouernnents haue arnplL'pctrL^('rs ro^lll.specf the^{businesspremisesoJ the} petitioners. In this re.lard, lll' lcurncrl Counsel for th.e^{petitionershas} failed^{to place anqsucltorttitrtrttq, rtttder whi<:h,the G.H.M.Cis onlA} compet?nt to insp,:cl fhc brr-sllll'ss ol'tll. Pctitioncrs^{in seruirtg Hookah.}

¶158

Inuieruof tl.te fo,.cc7orrrr7 r/r.s.rr.ssion, this Courtis of the uieu thqt the act on of the^respon.l.n ls /r)1r(c ts rn ctccortiantce uith law and^ang interfer ence bg tltis Cctrttl il Ltl)^lltc l)t)It<'ts of^{tlrc potice} in^{this regardbg} exercis ng the potucrs utt(l( t 5t⁽ lton ))(; of tLLe Constitution^of India,^ts not u)a'ranted.

¶159

Further, tllc Dtct1ot^(itncntl oJ Police,^'felangana Stafe, is directed to take ol)ptol)n.tt. .tciton^qqttinst the oflicers for their inaction in respect of the rc:sluurortt-- lrr rrrrT tr.sct/ a-s /tookah centres dnd also to take oction agalnsl lltc lucllr ltuti<lttl rrcls of the oflicers, who interfered tDith tlrc restctut-atttts, tohLctL t,tt ltt'rttr1 r'urt tuithout there being ang uiol<ttio ns.^"

¶160

In W.P.No.14093 ol 2O I I. :r learned Single Judge of this Court referring to thc ordcr passr:cl in W-P.No-32O2 of 2Ol4 and the judgment of the Hon ble :\l)e\ Clor.rrt in Narind.er S.Chad.ha and

¶161

I^(_)

¶162

others u. Municipal^{Corpototionof Greater Munrbai(supra)' held}

¶163

as under

¶164

'The facts in^{W.PNo-3202oJ'20 11 anclltatch are sameand sitnilar to the} facts^{asserted in the insfanLu)rit[)elitorT'l"Ltt-tl1er ' as ightlg pointed out} bg the respondents^{there cctn't cttrcl ortclltt trctt to be a blanketdirection} qgainst the respond-ents for such^{clirt'<txttr ttrTuoLlgpreuents thePolice} from^{euen knowing or inuestig1titlqttltttt rs uctuallghappeningin the} nante of Jlavourecl^{hookohs. T/rc rlt'ci'sronofI {on'bleSuprerneCourt is} distingutshable^{to tIE} Ja(:t^{-sirtralro'li of rlrts crise'for o Circularutas} chaltenged in^{the rePorteclcase r' ttl rltlaqalitgof the Cirallar uas} consirlererl and^{clecicled.lVhert:trs l'lr/L'r} '(lsc^{on hand the prayer and} the cause of^{actrcn (.re ott (ilrqt'(ltrtlcrli:rcncc bA Police against} JTauoured^{hooknhs seruinq ctnd rtrt tt'ltttett ctnleror prc'ceedingis placed} on record to^{examinetlrc l<'galitLl('l stt.lt oftler ctr proceeding'Therefore'} tnwng regard. lo^{theuiatt'toki'ttttl ll!(' t rtrrLrttottorder dated27-O1- 2017} in W.P.No.32O2^{of 2014anclbcLlcltl rrrn srtlislred thqt the instant t'Dit} petition cr.n be^{rlismissc'r/bli ct(l()Plttt'tl/l('s'l'rc reQsons-"}

¶165

In^{W.P.Nos.22O60 of 20L 7 :rncl 23213 af 2OI7} '^{a learned} Single Judge^{of this Court vicle orclcr clated 02'082O17'observedas}

¶166

follows:

¶167

"17) The tu)o^{ju.lqr.n('nl.sr<:.1<:rrtrllt)} 'L!)t)L(^{d('alt wilh situationuhere} the interference^{of thepoli<e in llrt' l)rrsrrr('s's} '4'the^{petttioners in seruing} Jlavoured^{ho()kohLL'os or chctllcrttl<'-Srl'lrlliorl on hand nouis totallg} different^{ctnd still uersc tL uLt'rrttlLlrt lrtttlicationcLated23O5'2O17} which^{prohibitedscruiccirt srrrrktttrT <trt'tt} 'tr sJtcrce prouided for^smoking' Ad.mitted.llJ.^{hookoh rs (1} Pro(luct^{Ir /lr('/r ( ()rrl'llrlstobaccoand uhenang} product c(rntoms^{tobac(o, the s'trrtt' llrts t't lt<' puffcd in a non-smoking} zone. In tttetu^{of the ctcLtlar r-^slr"1 /'ll tlt' t;t'tPtttmettt'seruiceofhookah} euen in tllc^{no srno,/|int/ zotre tL'tnr'iti;;t} "1'7r1"^rtrtsstDle'

¶168

'20

¶169

It is to be tlotc(7 LLerc thot the eboue said prouision wi applg if the hc.tel/ rest(1tt,1rltt h.r-s llO rooms and the coffee shop has seating copaci:g of 30 perscDls ctt more. whiclt does not mean tha| hookah can be freelg^{.;trp1ttic.c1in e rasleurdnt} uthere scating capacitA is less thttn 30 or a hotel ttltcr<' thct-c era lcss number of rooms."

¶170

As per Scction 4 of thc Act, if the restaurant has scating capacity of 3O per:;o[rs or more, a separate provision for smoking area has tc lte provided. The word Hookah has not been defined in the COTP.{ct. Section 3 (k) of the COTp Act defines^{,.production,'.} A reading of thc saicl provision u,ould show that the word^{,.production,,} includes rtaking of cigarettes, cigars, cheroots, beedis, cigarette tobacco, pipe tobacco, hool<ah tobacco, chewing tobacco, pan masala or any che lving rn:rtcri:rl havir-rg tobacco as one of its ingredients (by rvhatcver rramc callccl) .r s,uff. Therefore, it implies that all thc tobacco pr tducts whrch are taken with the aid of pipe, wrapper or any other i nst rurnc.ts *'ourd fall within the definition of section 3(') of the COT P Act. Ii rire rcstaurant or coffee shop falling within tl-re ambit of S,ectior-r zl ol thc COTp Act, has to provide a separatc smoking zone-^'lhc G.r,crnment of India has issued a notification rn the month cf May, 20 I7, which clearly indicate that no service sh:rll be allowed in:r smol<rrrg area or in the space provided for smoking. Thcrefore, thc rest;,iurr,t ()rvn.rs shall not involve themsclves in thc act of servi<.c to Lhr:it- (.Llst()rr)crs, in thc prohibited area. Section l2 of thc Act corLfers l)o\.el s to the police officer not below tl.re r:r.k of

¶171

¶172

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Sub-lnspcctor of Police or any officer of authorized by the Central Government or State Government to search the premises at any reasonable time, if he suspects that the provisions of the Act are contravened namely cigarettes or any other tobacco products are produced, supplied or distributed or whether aly advertisement of the cigarcttes or any other tobacco products are being made. While alfecting a search and scizure, Section 12 of the Act clearly says, that the provisions of the Cr.P-C. have to be followed.

¶174

Havir-rg regard to the above, and taking into consideration, consistcnt view taken by this Court in the aforesaid Writ Petitions, this Cor:rt do not hnd anv illegality in police ofhcers, entering into the prenrises and searching the same, so as to find out whether the owners of the restar.rrants have contravened or violated any of the provisions of the COTP Act and Rules made therettnder.

¶175

It is useful to refer and extract Article 47 of the Constitution of hrdia. u'hich reads as follows

¶176

"47. Duty ol the State to rq.ise the level of rrutritiorr a d the sktndard of living^qnd to itnproue public health.- The Slate shoLl r<,qonl tlu: ratsng of the leuel of nutition ond the standard of liuing of its p<t4tlt' utwl lLe improuement of public heqlth as qmong its primorA duties eutl. tn pertrcLtlor, the State shall cndequour to bing about prohtbition of Illc ct,ttslrnplion excepL lor rnctcli<:[ttul purposes of intoicdting dinks ond ol dtuqs u'htch are injurious to health

¶177

¶178

This Constitutional Provision specifically deals with improvemr:nt of public health a primary cluty of the Srate. The Court should enforce this dut1, against a defaulttng local zruthority. Any articl: which is hazardous or injurious to public health is a potential <langer to the fundamental right to iife guarantced to the citizens urrder Article 21 read with Article 47 and a pararnount duty is cast on the States and its authorities to achieve an eppropriate Ievel of protection to human life and heatth. Further. restrictions imposed b,,. law for supply and serving of tobacco products ir-rcluding serving hcokah cannot be said to bc violative of Artrclc l9(l)(g). Having re,4ard to the principtes containcd in Articlc 47 ol thc Constitutic,n, the State or its authorities are having right to regulate the sale <,f tobacco product which includes running of hool<ah centres. While granting license to run thc restaurants. thc Sl.rtc or its authori -ies must resort to strict scrutin_y of the applications. For the purpose of grant oflicence, the larv as contained in the rrrles, did not contafl any provision for rela_xing any condirion. It Vincent Pa.nikurlangara a. (Inion oJ India.s the Hon,ble Suplcnre Conrt observed that "maintenance and improvement of pubric hcaltrr rravc: to rank higr as these are indispensable to the vcry physir:al existence of the corrLmunity and on the bettcrment o[ these deltcncls, the

¶179

' elr rq87 SC,)90: (t987) 2 SCC 165

¶180

building of the society^{of which the Constitutionm:rkersenvisaged} Attending to public health^{is of high prioritv.}

¶181

Section 4 of the CoTP^{Act definesprohibition of smoking in a} public place. It states that no^{person shall smoke in any public} place. Provided that in a hotel having thirty^{roolnsor a restaurant} having seating capacity of thirty^{persons or more and in the airports,} a scparate provision for^{smokingarea or space nlay be macle'} Admittedly, the^{petitioners in all these cases harveobtained licence to} rr-Lr-r the hotels / restaurants.^{Section 6 of the CoTP Act prohibits sale} o[ cigarette or other tobacco^{products to a person bclow the agc of} cighteen years and in^{an area witl-rin a raclius of one hundred yards} of any educational^{institution. A conjointIeadiug of Section6 read} with Section 4 of COTP^{Act clearly indicate smokit'tg ol'tobaccoin any} form is prohibited in^{public places likc tlotels' llcstaurantsand} Arrports. Rule 4(3) of^{the Rules,2008, a smoking} 'rrca^{or space shall} bc used only for the^{purpose of smoking aud uo othcr service(s) shall} tte allowed. A careful reading^{of the above provisions.wouldindicate} that the Hotels and^{Restaurants where normall-v frlod is supphed, are} prohibited from smoking^{of any tobacco prodr-tct,uuless a separate} arczr is made to allow^{smoking. Therefore.the col-ttcnti<.rn of the} l)ct^{itioners that thelicence obtainecll'l} t hetn to run the

¶182

¶183

Hotels/ Reslaurants also allov,s th<'rn to havc srnoking of hookah and run hooka} centres is not tcnal;lc

¶184

The petitroners having ot;1:rincd iicence to run hotels/ restaurants have to compl_v the corl(titiolts imposed by the Municipal CorporatiorL, whereas Section 4 oI the COTP Act, prohibits smoking in a public place. Thercforc. thc conditions imposed by the Municipal Corporation for grant ing trade licence to run Hotels/ Restaurant; are varying frorn the conditions that are incorporated under the provisions o[ COTI] r\cr^'I'he licence obtained for running Restaurants whrch have I h(' s(.irt urs cirpacity of thirty persons or more does rot confcr ltrtv r ight t() tlrc l)ctltioners to convert the same as a place of smoking arc:l or lo rtrn hookah centre.

¶185

Admittedly, in the pr('scr)t ('rscs on hand, the petitioners have obtained l.cences to rult I krrcls/ Ilestaurants/Bars and without speci$ring ;tny area as snrolir nq z()nc :rs per the provisions of COTP Act and Rules made thcretrncler. :rs sr,rch they are not having right to contend tt at they arc r:nl itled t() rult the hotels / restaurants as Hookah cerrtrcs.

¶186

The Hon'ble Suprcrrrc Ctoru t irr Narind.er S. Chadho. u. Municipal Corpora.tion of Greater Mumbai (supra), while dealing

¶187

¶188

¶189

with the Condition 35(C) of the Circular issuecl by the Bombav

¶190

Municipal Corporation, obse rwecl :ts follor,r,,s:

¶191

'14. It tuill be seen that Contlitron -lslc) o.f tl.re impugned circular essentiallg reproduces Rute q(3) ol tl1? seid Rules and then ad.ds the taords "or anA apparatus tlcsiclrted tu) la.tit.tte srnoking". Thc efJect of the added words ls that a Hook(h (.ei,tot b<) prouided by the hotet, restaurant or airport bemcl on el)porotLts rlesigne<l to facilitate smoking."

¶192

We rtnd it chffrcult to accepL tltrs ()ntetltion ltecause, if carefullg read, Rule 3 deals u)ith the prolibttton o/ srnoking in public places, uhich is referable lo Sr:ctiorr 4 ( teu1 l)(Ln) rllrr:rea-s Rule 4 is referable to the prouiso to Secfion 4. Rtrlc .l rtoLrkl onllJ cqtplLl where there is a total prohibition of smokinq tr ctll pLitltc plcicc.s as is clear from Rule 3(1)(a) which ma|es rt itcurtrltertt otl llle ort,ner. propnetor, etc. of a public place to ensure that o persol srrrokcs irr thot place. It ts in thot context that cshtrays, mal(.hes, liqht,.rs .1t1tl other things d.esigned to fac^{itate smoking} are not tc) ltt, ltrrtt.t<lccL ut public places where smoking is prohibtted a\ogctll<tr "

¶193

As per Section 3(1) of the COTI, r\ct. "public place,, means any place to which the public h.rve access. \,hctller as of right or not, and includes auditorium, hospittrl builclings, railway waiting room, €unusement centres, restaLlrants, prrl;lir: oflices, court buildings, educational institutions, Iibraries, plll)lic conveyances and the like which are visited by general plrhlic l)Lrt cloes not include any open space. As per Section 3(g) ol thc Hr clr:rab:rcl City police Act, 134g Fasli (for short "City [,olir:c Ac1"), "pul)[i(. pLl(.c of amusernent,, means every piace or house or teltt or etrclosrrre or Lrooth or anv other

¶194

¶195

building u'hethcr permitncnt or^{temporarywhere singing,music,} dancing or any drvcrsion or^{gamcand anythinggiving amusement or} the means of carrying on the^same is^{providedand to whichthe} public are admittcd either on payment of money or^{with the intention} that money may be collected from them on^{admission and shall} include the race-coursc, circus, theatre,^{musicand dancing hall,} billiard room, S'mnasium or any other^place allotted^{for such} purposes. As per Section 3(h) of the City Police Act, "public^place of entertainrr.ent" means any enclosed or open^place to which^the public have acccss ;rnd rvhcre any kind of articles of food and drink are suppli,:d lor consltmption by any pcrson or for the^profit of^any person owring or having any interest in or managing such place and shall include a refreshmcnt room, tea house, liquor house, boarding housc, loc ging hor-rse. lrotel, tavcrn or sendhi, wine, ganja, todd_t', bhung or opiuLl shops- As pcr Section 3fi) of the City Police Act, "public place" also inr:ludes the place within the premises or enclosure of any p,ublic lluilding or monuments and all places to which the public h..rvc access for drawing water, washing or bathing or for the l)urpose of reclcation.

¶196

[t is pertinent 1{) statc that "public place" as defined undcr Section 3(l) of CO1'I' Act, incllrcles amusement centres, and the samc is defined in "pr-rblir' 1;lar'r' o[:rmusement" under Sections 3(g) of Cit-r'

¶197

¶198

Police Act- As per chapter III of the city poiice Act, the commissioner of Police is having power to issue rules and regulations for preselatior-r of order. Further, as per Sectio n 32 of the City police Act, for enforcement of orders under Section s 22, 23 and 24 of tne City Police Act, the police ofhcer may arrest arry person wrthout warrant. As per Section g4 of the City police Act, police is having powcr to specify conditions etc., for obtaining licences and permits. Since tl're City porice Act, confers power over the amusement Centres/restaurants, which are defined as ,.public place,, under the COTP Act ancl :rs per Rule 4 of the prohibition of Smoking in public Placcs Rules, 2OO8 permission is required specifying smoking area. In view of lhe po',vers being conferred on the commissioner of police, under the Citv police Act, the police are having power to supervise the business cstablishments of the petitioners and seize the hookah centrcs il thcre is any violation of the provisions of the COTp Act. Therefore, to establish hookah centres, permission from the concerned authority has to be obtained under the provisions of City Police Act. The petitioners shall follow rules and regulations issued by the Conrrnissioner of police from time to time for preservation of the pr-rblic order_

¶199

¶200

[n view of the above discussion, this Court is of the opinion that imposing of certain conditions to run the Hookah Ccntrcs u,ould meet the ends ofjustice.

¶201

i) As C harcoal is being used for serving hookah in tl-rc Hookah Centres, the petitioncrs shall obtain licence from the Municiparl Corporation as specihed under Section 521(1)(b) of Creater Hydt:rabad Municipal Corporation Act, 19 5 5.

¶202

ii) Sinc,: the Hyderabad City Police Act, 1348 Fasli confers power over the amusement Centres / res tauran ts which are delined as "pubtic place" under the COTP Act and as per Rule^,t of the Prohibition of Smoking in Public Places Rules, 2008 perrr.ission is required specifying smoking area- Therelore, to estatrlish hookah centres, the petitioners shall obtain ncceisary permission from the concerncd authority under the provisions of the City Police Act.

¶203

iii) The Hookah Centres are prohibited from serving an1, tob:rcco prod:ct to the persons below the age o[ cightccn vears. Pictorial health-warning labels at thc entrance ntust lrc displayed.

¶204

iv) The^{-espondents-police} are at libcrtv to supervisc ernd inspect the tlookah Centres, for any violation of rules and regulations, guidt:lines or circulars issued under the provisions of thc Hyderabad City Police Act, 1348 Fasli.

¶205

v) If tht:re rs any violation of the provisions of thc COTP Act :rncl the Rules made thereunder, thc r esltondents police :rre at

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liberty to take^{appropriateactiotl as per the provisions of the} COTP Act.

¶208

Subject to fulfilling^{theaboveconditions and also the} provisions of COTP^{Act, the respondents-policeare dirccted not to} interfere with the^{business activityof the petitioners for running} Hookah Centres. If^{the police are found to act in a highhanded} manner, the owners^{of the Hookah Centresare at liberty to bring the} same to the notice^{of the Director Gencralof Policc/ Comnussioncr of} Police, as directed^{by this Court in Writ PetilionNo 32O2 of 20 14 and} batch, in which^{event the said authority shall forthwithtake} necessary stePs in^{that regard}

¶209

26 Accordingly, all^{these Writ Petitions are disposedoI}

¶210

Miscellaneous Petitions,^{if any,pencling in thcse rvrit pctitions} shall stand closed.^{No orderas to costs}

¶211

C.V. BHASKAR^{REDDY, J}

¶212

Date: 15.11.2023 SCS

Mohammed Saif v. The State of Telangana

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Mohammed Saif v. The State of Telangana

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