What makes Karnataka High Court the Darling of Tobacco Lobby?
Mumbai, 16 th February, 2017: It's a proven fact that millions of innocent young lives are saved by a law named COTPA, requiring tobacco brands to display graphic warnings on 85% of their packaging surface. Naturally, India's tobacco barons – mercenary drug lords whose business consists of spreading tobacco-addition among youths -- are lobbying for dilution of this law and hunting for reliefs from court. But why are all the tobacco barons filing petitions in Karnataka High Court in particular, instead of their own states? Of all the high courts that are available to them, why Karnataka? Why is Karnataka High Court entertaining them and giving them red-carpet treatment despite lack of jurisdiction? And why is Supreme Court – the Indian citizen's last hope -- looking the other way and allowing trhis forum-hunting? These are uncomfortable questions, bordering on criminal contempt. But, with millions of lives at stake, one is compelled by conscience to raise such q...