India enforce Smoking Ban from today, October 2, 2008

Breaking News! The morning of October 2, 2008 began a new era in India, with the a strict ban has been imposed on smoking on public places from today. Kudos to Health Minister Ambumani Ramadoss and the UPA government for making the smoking ban possible. In a clear warning to the smokers, the government has enforced the ban on smoking on public places including hotels, restaurants, pubs, offices, shopping malls, hospitals, cinema halls, bus stops, railway stations, schools, colleges, courts and international airports.

The smoking ban comes into force on the 140th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi. The Union Health Ministry issued a notification for the smoking ban under the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products (Prohibition of Advertisement and Regulation of Trade and Commerce, Production, Supply and Distribution), Act 2003.

The government decided to go ahead with the smoking ban after receiving a green signal from the Supreme Court even though some states like Maharashtra and Bihar had raised objections to it. According to new notification, if somebody is found guilty of smoking in the public places, he/she will have to pay a fine up to Rs. 200.

To enforce the smoking ban strictly, the government has empowered certain officials to impose the penalty on people who violate the rules. Police Officers, Food Inspectors, Excise Inspectors, Gazetted Officers of state and central governments, Teachers, Lecturers, Professors, Bank Officers , CDMO and Doctors have been authorised to prevent smoking in respective areas and impose penalty if required. Managements of the private companies will be responsible to prevent smoking in their company/office premises.