Tamil Nadu may become like Punjab due to tobacco access: HC
The Madras High Court on Tuesday said that due to easy availability of tobacco in Tamil Nadu, the state may become another Punjab. The court also asked the concerned authorities to take preventive measures to check the problem. The court further directed to furnish details of the raids conducted by the authorities each month and results of such raids periodically. 
Chennai, Mar 14 (PTI): Alarmed that "Tamil Nadu may become another Punjab one day" due to easy availability of tobacco products to young students, the Madras High Court today asked authorities to conduct preventive raids to check the malady. "If this situation is allowed to continue, one day Tamil Nadu might become another Punjab," observed Justice N Kirubakaran while passing orders on a plea detailing the malady of the shopkeepers selling tobacco products to students and people smoking in public places. On petitioner T C Sharaths plea, the bench also directed the officials of Union health ministry, the states Health and Welfare Department, the director general of Tamil Nadu police and Chennai police commissioner to form squads to conduct surprise raids at shops within 100 yards of the educational institutions. The bench asked the authorities to seize tobacco products as per Section 14 of the Cigarettes and other Tobacco Products (Prohibition of Advertisement and Regulation of Trade and Commerce, Production, Supply and Distribution Act, 2003). 