India, Oct. 17 -- The Bombay High Court has reiterated that serving herbal or tobacco-free hookahs is permissible, provided there is no violation of the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act, 2003 (COTPA). Reaffirming its 2019 order, the court warned the Maharashtra government against arbitrary police action and directed that authorities must act strictly as per law.

A division bench of Justices Riyaz Chagla and Farhan Dubash stated that authorities can conduct searches only if a complaint is received. "If any tobacco substance is found in the hookah parlour, then they can take action against those persons," the bench observed.

The court disposed of a series of petitions filed by restaurant owners who alleged that police continued t...