Gauhati High Court on Monday directed the Assam government to conduct a sample test of pan masala products available in the market to check whether they contain harmful chemicals like magnesium carbonate (MgCO3) which causes cancer and other deadly diseases.

The court’s direction came in response to a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by Jitul Deka, general secretary of Asomiya Yuva Mancha, a youth organisation of the state, seeking the court’s intervention in banning manufacture, supply and sale of harmful products like pan masala in the state.

The petitioner complained that MgCO3 was found in large quantity in some pan masala products available in Assam.

“Though the state government has taken steps to prohibit the manufacture, storage, transportation, display, distribution or sale of gutkha, pan masala or any chewing material containing tobacco or nicotine, no such steps have been taken in terms of pan masala or chewing material containing magnesium carbonate. States like Bihar, Maharashtra and Rajasthan have prohibited certain brands of pan masala, which are available in Assam, after they were found to contain MgCO3,” the petitioner said.

He also referred to previous studies which have established that the presence of MgCO3 in pan masala makes it a stimulator in causing cardiac arrest and cancer, among other diseases.

In the PIL, Deka also prayed for constituting a special team under the supervision of the high court for the purpose.

The petitioner’s counsel, advocate Amit Goyal, told The Telegraph, “After considering the prayer, the high court asked the state government to collect samples of pan masala products sold in the state and do a laboratory test to check out the ingredients. The court has asked the state to file its response on March 16, during the next hearing.”