The Karnatka government may postpone the decision to show pictorial warnings on tobacco products and decision in this regard is reported to have taken by state. Government is likely to notify the decision on Monday. The pictorial warning was due to be implemented from December 1 and expected to defer till May 31 next year.

Medical and family welfare joint director and Karnataka Tobacco Cell member, S Prakash said the decision is yet too notified. Meanwhile, the anti-tobacco activists are disappointed with government's move and said that the decision was taken under the influence of Bedi industry. S J Chander of Institute of Public Health said that they have been demanding enforcement of pictorial warning and government has postponed the decision for the fifth time.

He said, "The lobby is so strong that it has stalled the warning which should have been implemented two years ago. The industry filed a petition in the Shimla High Court last year and the picture of skull and bones was removed. With this postponement, even the concept of having Scorpio and diseased lung pictures looks doubtful."

The health activists said that government is playing in the hands of tobacco industry and it has nothing to do with the health of innocent people. Tobacco claims around 1 million lives per year in India and figure is expected to rise in coming times. Pictorial warning is already implemented in Thailand, Singapore, Brazil, Chile, South Africa.