Guwahati : The passage of anti-tobacco bill was delayed in the state Assembly as it is awaiting President Pranab Mukherjee’s consideration and nod.
State Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sharma today said the bill, titled ‘the Assam Health (Prohibition of manufacture, advertisement, trade, storage, distribution, sale and consumption of zarda, gutkha, panmasala, containing tobacco) Bill, 2013’, had been sent to Governor JB Patnaik for his assent after the House had passed it during its last sitting in July this year.
“On enquiry from the Legislative department, I have learnt that the Governor has been advised to reserve the bill for consideration of the President of India,” the Minister said.
Dr Sharma claimed that the state bill was in no way in conflict or repugnant of any Central law, as pointed by the Legislative department in advising the Governor for sending it for Presidential consent.
He, further, claimed that the bill was drafted in close coordination with the Legislative department and the Additional Advocate General, Assam, was also consulted and at no point was the Health department told the need for the President’s assent.
The minister said if the bill awaits the President’s assent, it could take about two years time as seen in such cases.
The matter of the status of the bill was earlier raised in the Assembly by Congress. (UNI)
