School heads have right to issue challans under COTPA: Official

Ludhiana, July 24

Following guidelines of Civil Surgeon Jasbir Singh Aulakh, a meeting under the leadership of Nodal Officer, Tobacco Control, Dr Ashish Chawla, discussed in detail the tobacco control programme implementation in the district.

In the meeting, the District Education Officer (Secondary), District Education Officer (Elementary) and block education officers were among others present.

Dr Chawla while giving information about the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products (Prohibition of Advertisement and Regulation of Trade and Commerce, Production, Supply and Distribution) Act, 2003, told the officials that shopkeepers who sell foreign cigarettes and aromatic tobacco products without warning could be punished with five years’ imprisonment and a fine of up to Rs 10,000.

He asked the officials to mark a radius of 100 yards from the outer wall of schools under his jurisdiction and if any person uses or sells tobacco within the same, he violates COTPA and he should be challaned. If the seller repeatedly violates the rules, the help of the Police Department should be taken to take appropriate action against the person.

He said heads of schools have the right to issue challans under the Act. He told them to install no-tobacco zone boards inside and outside all schools and children should be made aware about ill-effects of tobacco in the morning meeting.