On Tuesday, Justice Kanneganti Lalitha of the Telangana High Court directed the Director-General of Police to issue a circular instructing police officers not to carry out raids, seize or stop the manufacture, storage, transportation, and sale of tobacco products such as ‘khaini,’ ‘kharra,’ scented or flavored tobacco, and other tobacco products.
The judge ordered that the circular provided to police officers be produced before the High Court on Wednesday, or else the DGP would have to appear before the court.
Justice Lalitha issued these orders in response to the Supreme Court’s interim orders staying the state government’s notification prohibiting the sale of gutka and tobacco products in packets or sachets.
Some gutka traders filed a complaint with the High Court, alleging that police raided and seized their goods despite Supreme Court orders. They also informed the High Court that a High Court division bench had clarified that the Supreme Court orders would be followed by the police.
They complained that even after seizing the stock, the police did not produce it before the relevant courts. Taking the matter seriously, Justice Lalitha directed government counsel for home to submit whether or not the seized stock had been deposited before the courts. The details should be provided to the court if they were submitted, said Justice Lalitha.
The State police, according to Justice Lalitha Kanneganti, “have no respect for the orders passed by the honorable Apex Court and this High Court.”
The judge stated that when the Supreme Court suspends a notification issued by the State government, it is the responsibility of the Home Secretary and the DGP to educate their officers.
The judge ordered the government’s counsel to provide information on where all of the seized material was stored. On Wednesday, the case would be heard.
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