New Delhi: The Delhi High Court on Monday sought the city government's response to a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) seeking strict implementation of the ban on chewable tobacco products.

A division bench of Chief Justice G. Rohini and Justice Sangita Dhingra Sehgal directed the Delhi government to file its reply on the plea filed by an NGO, Fariyaad Foundation, and posted the matter for May 2.

The non-governmental organisation said the government issued a notification in 2015-16 to ban the sale, supply and manufacture of 'gutka' and other chewable tobacco products but it was not being strictly implemented.

The alleged inaction by the authorities showed their callousness, said the PIL, while seeking directions to the Delhi government and its Food Safety Department to strictly implement the ban.

On February 9, the high court had agreed to hear the plea on February 13.-IANS