Last updated: May 3, 2010
Source: News Blaze
Srinagar, May 3: The government in Indian administered Kashmir has a launched a drive against smokers to enforce a ban on smoking in public places.
A top civil official, Mehraj Ahmad Kakoo, led a team of inspectors which inspected various offices and hospitals in Srinagar, the summer capital of Kashmir, on Monday.
During the inspection, the team interacted with smokers and apprised them about the bad effects of smoking and warned them against smoking.
Meanwhile, cigarettes were confiscated from a shopkeeper, who was selling the cigarettes within 100 yards of Presentation Convent School Rajbagh. Approximately Rs 2000 was compounded as a fine and Cigarettes and Tobaccoo products worth thousands were seized and later put to flames.
The official team also registered challenges against 10 smokers and charged them with fines worth Rs. 2000.
“The squad is active against smoking in the public places and anybody found violating the norms will be dealt with by law,” a senior official said.
Two lawyers have filed a Public Interest Litigation against smoking in public places. The petitioners are seeking strict measures to prevent puffing at the public locations in accordance with the guidelines issued by the government and the Supreme Court of India.
Under Section-4 of the “Cigarettes & Other Tobacco Products (Prohibition of Advertisement & Regulation of Trade & Commerce, Production, Supply & Distribution) Act 2003 (better known as COTPA), smoking in public places is prohibited and any violation of this Act is punishable with a fine up to Rs 200.
Written by Fayaz Wani