NEW DELHI, Feb 2026 : The Supreme Court administration on Thursday published on its website a warning against those in the habit of chewing pan masala or gutka, or tobacco products and spitting the residue in washbasins in court premises which leads to risk of “infections”.
The circular dated February 11 reads, “It has been observed that some of the building users are in the habit of chewing pan masala/gutka, tobacco etc. and spitting the residue in the wall corners, washbasins, drinking water facilities etc. This habit results in water blockage and risk of infections, besides putting other building users to inconvenience (sic).”
The communication issued by the assistant registrar added, “It is, therefore, impressed upon all concerned not to engage in spitting of pan masala/gutka, tobacco, etc., in the premises and cooperate in keeping the premises clean and tidy.”
FSSAI enforced Supreme Court’s ban on gutka, pan masala in 2017
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) issued a directive on October 9, 2017, banning the manufacture, sale and distribution of gutka and pan masala (with tobacco and nicotine).
The directive was issued to Commissioners/Offices In-charge of Food Safety of all states and union territories in the country. The Food Safety and Standards (Prohibition and Restrictions on sales) Regulations, 2.3.4, prohibit the use of tobacco and nicotine as ingredients in any food products and bans sale of all food products where tobacco is present as an ingredient, such as gutka and pan masala.
