CHENNAI: SINCE smoking in public places is a serious matter and larger issues have to be dealt with, the Madras High Court has suo motu impleaded the State Health and Family Welfare Secretary and the Director-General of Police as party respondents in a writ praying for a direction to Corporation officials to curb smoking in public places.
Justice N Kirubakaran impleaded them while entertaining a writ petition from Studio 11, represented by TC Sharath and ordered notice returnable on June 8.
According to petitioner, public smoking was prohibited nationwide from October 2, 2008 under provisions of Prohibition of Smoking in Public Places Rules.
While so, he found a tea stall, situated within 100 meters from a school in Trust Puram in Kodambakkam selling cigarettes and permitting its customers to smoke both inside and outside the shop.
After complaining orally to the Corporation authorities in Kodambakkam, he sent a representation to the Commissioner, Corporation of Chennai, on February 4. There was no action, hence the writ petition.