High Court Targets Tobacco Sales: Notices Issued to Swiggy, Blinkit to Curb Underage Access

The Punjab and Haryana High Court issued notices to Swiggy, Blinkit, Meta, Google, and Central and State authorities regarding a plea to regulate the online sale of tobacco to minors. The Bench, comprising Acting Chief Justice GS Sandhawalia and Justice Lapita Banerji, requested responses and scheduled the next hearing for July 24.

1. A 15-year-old student filed a petition seeking enforcement of health regulations allegedly violated by online platforms.
2. The student, represented by his guardian, raised concerns about high smoking and vaping rates among peers in Chandigarh.
3. The plea claimed that the COTPA, 2003, and the Prohibition of Electronic Cigarettes Act, 2019, were not fully enforced.
4. As a result, banned products like e-cigarettes were easily accessible to teenagers.
5. The petition highlighted that underage individuals could purchase tobacco products from platforms like Swiggy Instamart and Blinkit, violating Section 6(a) of COTPA.
6. The petitioner demonstrated that a pack of cigarettes could be ordered via Blinkit by falsely confirming age, with delivery within 9 minutes.
7. The plea sought not only the enforcement of existing laws but also the formation of a monitoring committee.
8. The proposed committee, supervised by three retired High Court judges, would establish a permanent mechanism to prevent the illicit trade and promotion of e-cigarettes and tobacco products to minors.

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