BANGALORE: The High Court on Thursday banned production, sale, distribution and marketing of Manikchand gutkha in the state with immediate effect.
Chief Justice P D Dinakaran and Justice V G Sabhahith directed the Dhariwala industries, situated in Hosur Road, Bangalore, to stop production and selling of gutkha in the state.
The Court while accepting the second lab test report of the Public Health Institution, a Central government body, observed that magnesium carbonate found in gutkha is injurious to health and violative of the provisions of Prevention of Food and Adulteration Act.
In its earlier order, the Court had directed the Public Health Institution to carry out the second test to find out whether the magnesium carbonate was used as an ingredient or an external additive in its manufacture.
It was found out that magnesium carbonate was being used during the manufacturing and it was violative of the provisions of Prevention of Food and Adulteration Act, petitioner R L Pacchapure argued.
While allowing the interlocutory application filed by the petitioner, the Court passed the aforesaid order.