The PIL filed by two lawyers said that local paan shops were selling e-cigarettes openly, despite the Prohibition of Electronic Cigarettes Act being in force.
The use of the leaf for preparing a paan on special occasions like weddings has been stopped at many places in Karnataka and also at the paan shops.
HUBBALLI: Paan shops in Karnataka have fallen silent. Paan sellers’ earnings have taken a serious hit as residents are keeping away from Calcutta paan the traditional after-meal mouth freshener.
This has resulted in a drop in sale of paan by almost 50%. West Bengal’s popular Calcutta paan, which was once sold at Rs 4 to 5, is now being sold at an all time high price of Rs 12 to 14 per betel leaf without any ingredients. Currently, for a bundle of 200 Calcutta leaves, the price is Rs 2,200 to 2,500. Earlier it was Rs 500 to 700.