MURLI S.DEORA vs UNION OF INDIA

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 subjected to health risks due to the actions of smokers, which constitutes a deprivation of life without due process. The Court directed the Central Government to implement the Cigarettes (Regulation of Production, Supply and Distribution) Act, 1975, and take necessary measures to ban smoking in public areas.