The Supreme Court (SC) on Tuesday ordered the government to ban smoking in all public places.
Acting upon a public interest litigation filed by advocate Prakash Mani Sharma of Pro-Public, a division bench of justices Anup Raj Sharma and Rajendra Prasad Koirala issued the order on Tuesday.
The apex court also ordered the government to ban the advertisements of cigarettes and tobacco products in the print media and also ordered the government to formulate comprehensive anti tobacco legislation.
Ordering the government to create public awareness on the harmful effects of tobacco use, the SC also asked the government to formulate an appropriate law on smoking.
The Court has also asked its monitoring committee to ensure strict enforcement of the order.
The decision came at a time 15,000 Nepalis are dying every year from tobacco related ailments. As per the order of the Court, the government also needs to mobilize mass media to raise awareness against tobacco and its impact on public health.
According to studies, a smoker inhales 25 percent smoke from a cigarette and release 75 percent in the air. The smoke released in the air contains two times higher nicotine, three times higher tar and five times higher carbon monoxide level than the inhaled smoke.
The government has banned advertisement of tobacco and alcohol in electronic media.