From correspondents in Delhi, India, 07:30 PM IST

The Supreme Court Monday paved the way for a countrywide ban on smoking in public places from Oct 2, rejecting apprehensions that the health ministry's move would revive 'inspector raj'.

A bench of Justice B.N. Agrawal and Justice G.S. Singhvi also ordered the transfer to itself of a bunch of 34 petitions against the ban, pending in various high courts.

(Staff Writer, © IANS)