Nagpur: An owner of a city restaurant has approached the judiciary challenging Maharashtra government’s blanket ban on use of hookah through a statutory amendment to the ‘Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products (Prohibition) Act (COTPA)’ of 2003.A division bench comprising justices Pradeep Deshmukh and Rohit Deo on Monday, issued notices to the respondents, including the advocate general and state law and judiciary department, asking them to reply before March 25. The state department of food, civil supplies and consumer protection is the third respondent in the case.Shilpi, wife of Ajay Bagdi who is owner of a restaurant and lounge in Sadar, contended that banning the hookah was in violation of their fundamental rights and they were suffering Rs25,000 per day due to the government’s move.Through counsel Sangram Sirpurkar, the petitioner pointed out that amendment of October 4, prohibits any person from owning or opening and running a hookah joint at any place across Maharashtra. She further informed that after receiving license for the restaurant, they had created a zone for cigarette smoking and for consumption of other tobacco products as per laws.Praying for quashing and setting aside the amendment, Bagdi argued that it was in complete contravention to centre's law.

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