The Supreme Court struck down bans on hookah use in areas where smoking otherwise is allowed, overturning previous judgements that upheld the bans, The Times of India said.

High courts in Mumbai, Gujarat and Madras three years ago upheld bans on hookah that were justified under the Cigarette Act, which prohibits smoking in public places and sale of tobacco products near educational institutions. However the Supreme Court said a reference to “no other services shall be allowed”, in the law could not be used to support hookah bans, the newspaper said on its website.