<p>Hindi film actors Shah Rukh Khan, Ajay Devgn and Akshay Kumar have been served notices by an Indian government agency over their appearance in an advertisement endorsing tobacco companies.</p>

<p>A petition was filed in the Lucknow bench of the Allahabad High Court against these Bollywood celebrities for participating in advertisements which promoted products that are harmful to the health of the public at large.</p>

<p>The central government informed the court on Friday (Dec 8) that the Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) issued the notices and asked the court to dismiss the petition as the matter is also being heard by the Supreme Court.</p>

<p>A bench of Justice Rajesh Singh Chauhan had earlier directed the central government to decide the representation of the petitioner, who had originally contended that action should be taken against the actors and dignitaries who were given high-profile awards but were advertising for 'gutka' companies.</p>

<h2><strong>Petitioner approached court after govt inaction&nbsp;</strong></h2>

<p>The petitioner argued that a&nbsp;representation was made to the government on October 22, but no action was taken in the matter.</p>

<p>In response to the petition, the high court issued notice to the Cabinet Secretary of the central government.</p>

<p>Following this, on Friday, Deputy Solicitor General SB Pandey informed the High Court that the Centre had issued showcause notices to Akshay Kumar, Shah Rukh Khan, and Ajay Devgn.</p>

<p>The court was also informed that Amitabh Bachchan had sent a legal notice to a 'gutka' company, which was showing his advertisement despite the fact that he had already cancelled his contract with it, PTI news agency reported.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/bharat-is-a-belief-an-attitude-says-indias-foreign-minister-jaishankar-667999">Watch: 'Bharat is a belief, an attitude', says India's Foreign Minister Jaishankar</a></p>

<p>The court fixed the next hearing for May 9, 2024.</p>

<h2><strong>Ad triggered a massive furore</strong>&nbsp;</h2>

<p>When the ad aired, these actors were heavily criticised by the netizens, especially Akshay Kumar, who is known for his fitness.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/indian-lawyer-makes-shocking-claim-says-state-of-assam-originally-part-of-myanmar-not-india-667886">Indian lawyer makes shocking claim, says state of Assam originally 'part of Myanmar, not India'</a></p>

<p>The 54-year-old actor promptly issued an apology after facing brickbats saying that the response of his fans deeply affected him.</p>

<p>"I would like to apologise to you, all my fans and well-wishers. Your reaction over the past few days has deeply affected me. While I have not and will not endorse tobacco, I respect the outpouring of your feelings in light of my association with Vimal Elaichi. With all humility, I step back," Kumar said on X in April 2022.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


Hindi film actors Shah Rukh Khan, Ajay Devgn and Akshay Kumar have been served notices by an Indian government agency over their appearance in an advertisement endorsing tobacco companies.

Hindi film actors Shah Rukh Khan, Ajay Devgn and Akshay Kumar have been served notices by an Indian government agency over their appearance in an advertisement endorsing tobacco companies. A petition was filed in the Lucknow bench of the Allahabad High Court against these Bollywood celebrities for participating in advertisements which promoted products that are harmful to the health of the public at large. The central government informed the court on Friday (Dec 8) that the Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) issued the notices and asked the court to dismiss the petition as the matter is also being heard by the Supreme Court. A bench of Justice Rajesh Singh Chauhan had earlier directed the central government to decide the representation of the petitioner, who had originally contended that action should be taken against the actors and dignitaries who were given high-profile awards but were advertising for 'gutka' companies. Petitioner approached court after govt inaction The petitioner argued that a representation was made to the government on October 22, but no action was taken in the matter. In response to the petition, the high court issued notice to the Cabinet Secretary of the central government. Following this, on Friday, Deputy Solicitor General SB Pandey informed the High Court that the Centre had issued showcause notices to Akshay Kumar, Shah Rukh Khan, and Ajay Devgn. The court was also informed that Amitabh Bachchan had sent a legal notice to a 'gutka' company, which was showing his advertisement despite the fact that he had already cancelled his contract with it, PTI news agency reported. Also read | Watch: 'Bharat is a belief, an attitude', says India's Foreign Minister Jaishankar The court fixed the next hearing for May 9, 2024. Ad triggered a massive furore When the ad aired, these actors were heavily criticised by the netizens, especially Akshay Kumar, who is known for his fitness. Also read | Indian lawyer makes shocking claim, says state of Assam originally 'part of Myanmar, not India' The 54-year-old actor promptly issued an apology after facing brickbats saying that the response of his fans deeply affected him. "I would like to apologise to you, all my fans and well-wishers. Your reaction over the past few days has deeply affected me. While I have not and will not endorse tobacco, I respect the outpouring of your feelings in light of my association with Vimal Elaichi. With all humility, I step back," Kumar said on X in April 2022. (With inputs from agencies)

Shah Rukh Khan, Ajay Devgn and Akshay Kumar served notices over controversial tobacco ad

<p>Voters in Switzerland will decide on Sunday whether to become the first country to ban&nbsp;animal&nbsp;testing&nbsp;in a referendum that will also consider tightening controls on cigarette&nbsp;advertising.</p>

<p>Campaigners who want to end all experiments on mice, rats and other&nbsp;animals gathered enough signatures to stage the&nbsp;vote&nbsp;under the&nbsp;Swiss&nbsp;system of direct democracy, meeting strong opposition from the country's huge pharmaceutical sector.</p>

<p>The industry, which includes heavyweights Roche and Novartis, says such research is needed to develop new drugs.</p>

<p>Supporters of a ban on&nbsp;animal&nbsp;testing, which government data shows caused more than 500,000&nbsp;animals to die in&nbsp;Swiss&nbsp;laboratories in 2020, say the practice is ethically wrong and unnecessary.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/switzerland-long-a-safe-haven-for-tobacco-ads-weighs-a-ban-452502">Switzerland, long a safe haven for tobacco ads, weighs a ban</a></strong></p>

<p>The most recent opinion poll showed 68% of respondents opposed the proposed ban, suggesting it is unlikely to be approved.</p>

<p>The proposal to further restrict&nbsp;tobacco&nbsp;advertising&nbsp;looks likely to pass, with 63% of people polled in favour.</p>

<p>Voters' answers will be binding on the government, which will then decide on how to implement the proposals.</p>

<p>The anti-tobacco&nbsp;campaign, which needs support from a majority of cantons and&nbsp;voters to pass, wants to extend the current curbs on&nbsp;advertising&nbsp;to cover adverts anywhere young people can see them.</p>

<p>This would include barring&nbsp;advertising&nbsp;in newspapers, cinemas, the internet, at events, and on billboards, with supporters saying such adverts encourage youth smoking.</p>

<p>The government says the proposed crackdown goes too far, and has come up with counterproposals that would further reduce&nbsp;advertising&nbsp;but still allow it in newspapers, shops and on the internet.</p>

<p>Also being decided on Sunday is a government proposal to abolish a 1% tax on equity raised by a company, a measure it says would reduce investment costs and support economic growth.</p>

<p><strong>Watch |&nbsp;Switzerland tightens covid curbs, Denmark imposes new restrictions and more</strong></p>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/covid-news-switzerland-tightens-covid-curbs-denmark-imposes-new-restrictions-and-more-438051/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

<p>Opponents say scrapping the tax, which raises about 250 million&nbsp;Swiss&nbsp;francs ($270 million) per year, would benefit mainly large companies, with individual taxpayers left to make up the shortfall.</p>

<p>Financial support for&nbsp;Swiss&nbsp;media is the final issue to be considered by&nbsp;voters on Sunday. The government wants to avert the closure of more local newspapers and radio stations by granting an aid package of 151 million francs.</p>

<p>With slogans on posters saying "No taxpayers' cash for media billionaires", opponents have said the proposal would be a waste of public money and could threaten media independence.</p>

<p>The&nbsp;vote&nbsp;could go either way, with 49% against and 46% in favour, according to the latest polling data published by&nbsp;Swiss&nbsp;broadcaster SRG.</p>


Voters in Switzerland will decide on Sunday whether to become the first country to ban animal testing in a referendum that will also consider tightening controls on cigarette advertising.

Voters in Switzerland will decide on Sunday whether to become the first country to ban animal testing in a referendum that will also consider tightening controls on cigarette advertising. Campaigners who want to end all experiments on mice, rats and other animals gathered enough signatures to stage the vote under the Swiss system of direct democracy, meeting strong opposition from the country's huge pharmaceutical sector. The industry, which includes heavyweights Roche and Novartis, says such research is needed to develop new drugs. Supporters of a ban on animal testing, which government data shows caused more than 500,000 animals to die in Swiss laboratories in 2020, say the practice is ethically wrong and unnecessary. Also read | Switzerland, long a safe haven for tobacco ads, weighs a ban The most recent opinion poll showed 68% of respondents opposed the proposed ban, suggesting it is unlikely to be approved. The proposal to further restrict tobacco advertising looks likely to pass, with 63% of people polled in favour. Voters' answers will be binding on the government, which will then decide on how to implement the proposals. The anti-tobacco campaign, which needs support from a majority of cantons and voters to pass, wants to extend the current curbs on advertising to cover adverts anywhere young people can see them. This would include barring advertising in newspapers, cinemas, the internet, at events, and on billboards, with supporters saying such adverts encourage youth smoking. The government says the proposed crackdown goes too far, and has come up with counterproposals that would further reduce advertising but still allow it in newspapers, shops and on the internet. Also being decided on Sunday is a government proposal to abolish a 1% tax on equity raised by a company, a measure it says would reduce investment costs and support economic growth. Watch | Switzerland tightens covid curbs, Denmark imposes new restrictions and more Opponents say scrapping the tax, which raises about 250 million Swiss francs ($270 million) per year, would benefit mainly large companies, with individual taxpayers left to make up the shortfall. Financial support for Swiss media is the final issue to be considered by voters on Sunday. The government wants to avert the closure of more local newspapers and radio stations by granting an aid package of 151 million francs. With slogans on posters saying "No taxpayers' cash for media billionaires", opponents have said the proposal would be a waste of public money and could threaten media independence. The vote could go either way, with 49% against and 46% in favour, according to the latest polling data published by Swiss broadcaster SRG.

Switzerland to vote on becoming first nation to ban animal testing

<p>The Supreme Court has put a stay on Karnataka High Court&#39;s order of putting down 85 per cent pictorial warning on tobacco packs.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Supreme Court stayed Karnataka High Court&#39;s order of quashing 85% pictorial warning on tobacco packs.</p>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/950386757324845056?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 8, 2018</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">&times;</a></div>

<p>The tobacco companies will now have to switch back to carrying a pictorial warning covering 85 per cent of cigarette and tobacco packing.&nbsp;</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false"><iframe allow="encrypted-media" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" gesture="media" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/6gh_GCxMEHA" width="560"></iframe></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">&times;</a></div>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>The court&#39;s decision came citing the importance of public health and the harmful effects of tobacco products.</p>

<p>The decision came in response to a plea filed by a non-government&nbsp;organisation, Health for Millions Trust. The petition sought an interim stay on the High Court ruling.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The Karnataka High Court had struck down the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products (Packaging and Labelling) Amendment Rules, 2014&nbsp;for being unconstitutional on December 15.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The Apex Court&#39;s decision has come as a relief for the Government but a setback for the tobacco industry.&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>


The court's decision came citing the importance of public health and the harmful effects of tobacco products

The Supreme Court has put a stay on Karnataka High Court's order of putting down 85 per cent pictorial warning on tobacco packs. Supreme Court stayed Karnataka High Court's order of quashing 85% pictorial warning on tobacco packs. — ANI (@ANI) January 8, 2018 × The tobacco companies will now have to switch back to carrying a pictorial warning covering 85 per cent of cigarette and tobacco packing. × The court's decision came citing the importance of public health and the harmful effects of tobacco products. The decision came in response to a plea filed by a non-government organisation, Health for Millions Trust. The petition sought an interim stay on the High Court ruling. The Karnataka High Court had struck down the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products (Packaging and Labelling) Amendment Rules, 2014 for being unconstitutional on December 15. The Apex Court's decision has come as a relief for the Government but a setback for the tobacco industry.

85% pictorial warning to continue on tobacco products as Supreme Court quashes Karnataka High Court stay