25 years after the public smoking ban, tobacco limits are still an issue

• In 1999, Justice K. Narayana Kurup of Kerala High Court banned smoking in public places, establishing stricter tobacco control policies.

• The Supreme Court’s ruling in the Murli S. Deora vs. Union of India case led to the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA), 2003, prohibiting smoking in public places and introducing penalties for violations.

• The Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS) 2016-17 reported a decline in tobacco use in India from 34.6% in 2009-10 to 28.6% in 2016-17.

• The ICMR-NCRP 2020 report estimated that 27.5% of all men’s cancer cases were linked to tobacco use, with over 1.3 million new cancer cases reported in India in 2020.

• The effects of smoking cessation on cancer rates take time to manifest, with changes in cigarette design and new chemicals potentially altering their carcinogenic properties.

• The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare acknowledges inconsistent enforcement across states, despite the COTPA ban.

• The GATS 2016-17 report highlights reduced second-hand smoke exposure, improved air quality, and greater protection for vulnerable populations.