Cuttack: Orissa High Court has directed the state government to strictly enforce the ban imposed by it on gutkha, a chewing form of tobacco.

The court issued the order while disposing of a PIL on Thursday. Maitree Sansad, a socio-cultural organisation, had filed the PIL in 2002 seeking intervention against the sale of gutkha in the state.

The petition expected a direction to the state government to ban gutkha. After the court issued notices to the state government, the petition continued to gather dust.

The state government, on January 3, 2013, issued a notification banning manufacture, storage, sale and distribution of gutkha and pan masala containing tobacco or nicotine.

The ban was enforced from January 4, 2013, under Food Safety and Standards (Prohibition and Restrictions on Sales) Regulations, 2011.

Maitree Sansad filed a fresh follow-up petition alleging that the ban has over the years remained restricted and not been implemented both in letter and spirit with gutkha continuing to be sold freely across the state.

The matter came up on Thursday. Taking note of the developments since the PIL was filed more than 15 years ago, the division bench of Chief Justice Vineet Saran and Justice B.R. Sarangi disposed of the case with a direction to the government to strictly enforce the ban.

The bench, however, gave the liberty to the petitioner to file a fresh petition if there was no tangible implementation.

The Global Adult Tobacco Survey indicates 43.1 per cent are smokeless tobacco users in the state. More than 90 per cent of women user are in reproductive age group, thus exposing newborns to the risk.