Murli S. Deora vs Union Of India And Ors

The Supreme Court held that the right to life under Article 21 of the Constitution of India encompasses the right to breathe clean air, thereby prohibiting smoking in public places to protect non-smokers from the harmful effects of secondhand smoke. The Court emphasized that non-smokers should not be compelled to suffer health hazards due to the actions of smokers, which constitutes an indirect deprivation of life without due process. The Court directed the implementation of the Cigarettes (Regulation of Production, Supply and Distribution) Act, 1975, and acknowledged the severe public health risks associated with tobacco use.