New Delhi: The Delhi High Court on Wednesday refused to entertain a plea seeking ban on use of images of Hindu deities on packets of tobacco and other products as well as wedding cards and calenders, saying that respect to God is an issue of “personal sentiments”. The petitioner has said use of pictorial representations of Hindu deities and religious symbols on packaging materials should be banned as their disposal in garbage disrespects the sentiments of Hindus. A division bench of Justice N.V. Ramana and Justice Rajiv Sahai Endlaw questioned the rationale behind the PIL and asked whether the litigants were also asking for the ban on depicting gods on wedding cards and calendars. The bench said: “These people and companies love their god. That is why they are using them in their products.”
