The Madras High Court has directed the Director-General of Police (DGP), the Greater Chennai Police Commissioner and the Commissioner of Prohibition and Excise to respond to a petition seeking action against pubs in Chennai allegedly offering hookah services illegally.
The Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act prohibits the provision of hookah services in bars, pubs, cafés and similar establishments. The law provides for imprisonment of up to three years for those operating hookah bars in violation of its provisions.
However, advocate Mukundan of Chennai had filed a petition alleging that several pubs and cafés in Mylapore, Alwarpet, Royapettah High Road, Thousand Lights and Kodambakkam were illegally offering hookah services.
In his petition, he contended that such large-scale illegal activities could not take place in the city without the support of officials. He sought directions to the police to take stringent action against the pubs, bars, restaurants and cafés involved.
A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice S.A. Dharmadhikari and Justice G. Arul Murugan, which heard the petition, directed the DGP, the Chennai Police Commissioner and the Commissioner of Prohibition and Excise to file their responses.
The Bench adjourned the hearing to November 19.
