Despite ban, sale of tobacco products near schools goes on

Karam Prakash

Tribune News Service

Patiala, January 12

The Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA), 2003, is being openly flouted under the very nose of the Health Department. Defying the ban on the sale of cigarettes in the vicinity of education institutions, several stalls/shops are selling tobacco products near schools.

In fact, according to Section 6 of the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products (Prohibition of Advertisement and Regulation of Trade and Commerce, Production, Supply, and Distribution) Act (COTPA), 2003, the sale of cigarettes and other tobacco products within a 100-yard radius of educational institutions is illegal.

A checkout by The Tribune on Saturday found that shopkeepers were doing a brisk business by selling cigarettes from petty shops near schools.

Set up just 50 metres away from a private school on the Bhupindra road, two “pan” shops were selling cigarettes openly.

Ironically, one of the “pan” stalls was selling the banned tobacco products, adjoining the school wall. This school is not an exception. A number of such shops near schools and colleges across the city can be seen selling tobacco products and liquor.

Shockingly, the Health Department has not yet issued even a single challan under Section 6 of the Act.

As per the information provided by the Health Department, of the total 745 challans issued under the Act for violations of different sections, not a single challan was issued under Section 6 for selling tobacco products near education institutions in 2018.

Ban on smoking also violated 

The ban on smoking in public places is rampantly violated in the city. Newly opened restaurants and microbrewery are allowing smoking without following prescribed norms of having a proper smoking area with ventilation. A famous “pan” shop at Leela Bhawan here is not only offering loose cigarettes, but are seen openly smoking in and around the shop. 

Though the Health Department said it had issued 745 challans under Section 4 of the COTPA in 2018 for smoking in public places, no shopkeeper was fined for selling loose cigarettes under Section 7 of the act. Meanwhile, Assistant Health Officer Dr Malkiat Singh said, “School principals have also been issued challan books to issue challans. Therefore, it is not totally our responsibility. Moreover, we have covered the entire district, but if there are any violations, we will take action.”

When asked about smoking in restaurants, he said, “Smoking in the public is totally banned and restaurants have to take permission to allow smoking with prescribed norms.”