Adv Sahana Gajanana Bhat, B.A. LL.B, LL.M
ABSTRACT
Most of you have probably seen the statutory warning on screen in movies, Netflix serials, or YouTube videos, etc., stating that “smoking is harmful to one's health”, “that one shouldn't do this at home”, that “such behaviours are unlawful”, and so on. But have you ever considered why such statements are shown in movies? And what if they do not show those statements? If you have any doubts about such questions, let me inform you that not displaying the statutory warning is punishable sometimes, and the person who does not display the statutory warning may be responsible to pay a penalty, which may be considerably more severe in some cases than merely a penalty under Indian law. Thus, in this research paper, researchers attempted to bring out the laws that will be related to statutory warnings and necessity of such law, as well as different sections that are mentioned under The Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products (Prohibition of Advertisement and Regulation of Trade and Commerce, Production, Supply, and Distribution) Act, 2003 (COTPA) that discuss statutory warnings. Also included several case laws pertaining to statutory warning.
