Though the ban on smoking in public places was enforced on October 2, 2008, the FDA department claims to have been penalising people for the ‘Violation’ much before that.
The Pune division includes districts of Pune, Satara, Sangli, Kolhapur and Solapur. Smoking at public places has been prohibited under the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products (Prohibition of Advertisement and regulation of Trade and Commerce, Production, Supply and Distribution) Act, 2003, but the law came into effect from October 2, 2008. As per the notification, these rules may be called the Prohibition of Smoking in Public Places Rules 2008.
The department also claims that barring the FDA, no other department has been working proactively towards penalising people for violating the law despite having the powers to do so.
“Though the law was strengthened in October last year, the FDA has been taking action against those who smoke in public places even before that,” said Shivaji Desai, assistant commissioner (food) of FDA Pune. “Between April 2008 and March 2009, we took action against 1,563 people and collected Rs 2,21,950 as fine in Pune division,” he said.
“We are authorised to collect anywhere between Re 1 and Rs 200 as fine. Most of these were collected from people found smoking at hotels, restaurants and bus stands more than any other public place,” he added. The FDA has about 42 inspectors in Pune division to keep a check on violators.
“The notification issued by the Union ministry of health and family welfare has empowered inspectors of central excise, income tax, customs, sales tax, health, station masters, station in–charge of railways, all gazetted officers of state and central government, offices of the autonomous bodies and corporations, post masters of respective post offices to fine people found smoking in public places. But barring a few offices, most of these departments are not taking any action,” said a senior FDA official requesting anonymity.
“Even college–school headmasters/principals, librarians and in–charge of libraries and reading rooms are also authorised to impose and collect the fine under section 4 of the Act,” the official added.
Keeping A Check All public places Director public health/director health services/ In–charge administration in central/state government/nodal officers of anti– tobacco cell Railways & All its Premises Station master/assistant station master/station head/station in–charge Govt offices/Premises All gazetted officers of state/central govt in autonomous organisations/PSUs Govt and private hospitals Director/medical superintendent/administrator Post offices Post Master and above Private offices and workplaces Head of the institution/HR manager/head of administration Educational Institutions College, school, headmaster/principal/teacher Airports Airport manager/AAI officers/ officers of all scheduled airlines Inspectors of central excise, income–tax, customs, sales–tax, health, transport All public places within their jurisdiction.
(Above people are authorised to impose and collect the fine under section 4 of Smoking at public places has been prohibited under the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products (Prohibition of Advertisement and regulation of Trade and Commerce, Production, Supply and Distribution) Act, 2003).
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Source: Times of India
