Delhi high court on Tuesday issued notices to the Union ministries of Health and Family Welfare, and Information and Broadcasting on a petition filed by Bollywood producer-director Mahesh Bhatt [Images] challenging the Centre's notification banning smoking on screen.

A division of Justice Mukul Mudgal and Justice H R Malhotra asked the two ministries to respond to the notices by September 30.

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On behalf of the Centre, Additional Solicitor General P P Malhotra sought to defend the government contending that the notification was in tune with the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products (Prohibition of Advertisement and Regulation of Trade & Commerce, Production, Supply and Distribution) Act, 2003, which aims at saving people from involuntary smoking.

Bhatt had sought quashing of the May 31 notification issued by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare under Rule 4(6) of Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products (Prohibition of Advertisement and Regulation of Trade & Commerce, Production, Supply and Distribution) Rules, 2005 contending it was violating the fundamental right to freedom of speech and expression guaranteed under Article 19(1)(a) of Constitution.