The Supreme Court yesterday dismissed the tobacco companies' plea to stay the implementation of new cigarette packaging rules in the country. The apex court directed the companies to follow the rules till the Karnataka High Court pronounced its final order on the issue. <br/><br/>The top court transferred all related petitions from High Courts of Delhi, Bombay and Gujarat to the Karnataka High Court. It also directed that the matter be decided in eight weeks time. Union Health Ministry notification, effective from 1st April this year, requires increasing the size of health warning to 85 per cent up from the previous 20 per cent of the display area on the cigarette packets.

The Supreme Court yesterday dismissed the tobacco companies' plea to stay the implementation of new cigarette packaging rules in the country. The apex court directed the companies to follow the rules till the Karnataka High Court pronounced its final order on the issue. <br/><br/>The top court transferred all related petitions from High Courts of Delhi, Bombay and Gujarat to the Karnataka High Court. It also directed that the matter be decided in eight weeks time. Union Health Ministry notification, effective from 1st April this year, requires increasing the size of health warning to 85 per cent up from the previous 20 per cent of the display area on the cigarette packets.