Shimla: To enforce no smoking in public places, the Himachal Pradesh government has permitted the police to spot fine offenders of the law.
A government spokesman stated that police personnel not below the rank of a head constable has been authorised to impose and collect the fine as well as compound the offence under under Section 4 of the Cigarette and other Tobacco Products (Prohibition of Advertisement and Regulation of Trade and Commerce Production, supply and Distribution Act, 2003) in their respective jurisdiction.
In addition, central government personnel are also authorized to do so. Police has been authorised to impose and collect fines as well as compound the offence under Section 6 of the Act also.
It was in January 2002 that the state government prohibited smoking in public places, which were defined out as auditoriums, hospital buildings, health institutions, educational institutions, libraries, court buildings, public offices and public conveyances, including railways, in pursuance of directions from the Supreme Court to states and union territories.
As Editor, Ravinder Makhaik leads a team of media professionals at Hill Post.
Spanning a career of over two decades in mass communication, as a Documentary Filmmaker, TV journalist, Print Media journalist and with Online & Social Media, he brings with him a vast experience. He lives in Shimla.
