DJ Venkatesh
Jirkatang, Feb 22: The Hon’ble High Court of Calcutta on 16th January 2018 quashed the Notification issued by the Andaman & Nicobar Administration imposing a blanket ban on tobacco and related products. Following the Order of the Court, right now, the ban has been lifted. The Andaman & Nicobar Administration filed an appeal to the Higher Court insisting that the ban be continued.
On 19th Feb the matter was heard in the divisional Bench of the High Court sitting at Circuit Bench at Port Blair. On behalf of the business community the Advocates who came from Kolkata to appear in this matter submitter before the Ld. Judge that they will present proper reasons and documentation in the next Circuit Bench, so the matter adjourned till the next Bench.
But inspite of lifting the blanket ban the Police and Food Safety authorities are still nailing the shopkeepers in the name of the old ban. On 19 February 10 cartons of Zarda of a private businessman, were being transported via Anand bus from Port Blair to Diglipur. In spite of producing the bill and High Court’s Order the Police authorities seized the articles and said that their is no Order from the Lt. Governor with them to lift the ban and asked the shopkeeper from Kalighat to appear in the Police Station in this matter. They also denied issuing any seizer memo in this regarding.
Meanwhile all retail and wholesale shopkeepers are openly selling zarda since the High Court order from Port Blair to Mayabunder but in Diglipur not a single shop is openly selling the Zarda pouch/tin/pan. When enquired about this, shopkeepers said that they fear of harassment of authorities due to lack of any publication in news paper.
Meanwhile the Food Safety Officer of Diglipur speaking to Andaman Sheekha told that the administration has filed an appeal which is pending till next Circuit bench, till then Zarda is open for sale.
The High Court in its judgment on 16th Jan said that “the only conclusion is that the Regulation does not empower the respondent no.5 to issue the notification impugned in the Writ Petition. He lacks competence under the Act to issue the said notification in respect of the products contained therein”.
Is this action not amounting to Contempt of the Hon’ble High Court? Why the police and Food safety authorities are harassing the poor people?
