Madurai, Oct 13 : The Union Health Ministry after enforcing ban on smoking in public places, has directed health officials in states to seek details about the tobacco and drinking habits of deceased persons before issuing death certificates.

Application forms for the death certificates had been modified and specific queries in this regard had been included, official sources here said.

However, the instructions did not specify the reason for eliciting these details, they said.

Hereafter, the applicants for death certificates would have to mention whether the deceased was addicted to tobacco in any form or liquor, if so for how long.

The officials had been instructed to collect and compile the information and send it to the Director of Public Health, who in turn would forward them to the Centre, the sources said. (ANI)