Plea to implement tobacco guidelines in all schools, establish cessation centre in districts

Madurai: Madras high court on Friday sought a response from the Centre and state on a plea seeking a direction to strictly implement the Tobacco Free Educational Institution guidelines in all schools and to establish the child tobacco cessation centre in all districts across the state.A division bench of justice N Sathish Kumar and justice M Jothiraman was hearing a public interest litigation filed by an advocate R Manibharathi.The petitioner stated that tobacco products such as cigarettes and khaini (smokeless tobacco) are readily available around educational institutions. This situation demands urgent attention and collective action by the authorities. Even though the sale of smokeless tobacco products is banned by the Tamil Nadu government, it is easily available in petty shops.He stated that a single bench of the HC in 2024, issued a series of directions to the Centre and state which included to constitute a child tobacco cessation centre in all districts with experts to counsel/treat the addicted children. The court directed the state to constitute a two-member tobacco monitoring committee in all schools to periodically inspect the premises of the school and the vicinity and inform the police station/food safety officer concerned if there is any evidence of use of any tobacco product or selling of tobacco product to the children.

The court also directed to conduct oral/dental health checks for all the school students, periodically and at least twice in every academic year and lookout for tobacco/nicotine stains.He stated that he had submitted representations seeking to take immediate steps to implement the guidelines in all schools and to establish child tobacco cessation centre in all districts as per the direction issued by the court in 2024. Since no steps were taken, the petitioner moved court.