[Chd,Pb] Smokers! Beware!! Now Traffic Constable Can Also Cut Challan
All police officials equivalent to the rank of Head Constable or above and police officials who are authorized to issue traffic challan are also competent to act against any person who commits any offence under section 4 or section 6 of Cigarette and Other Tobacco Products Supply and Distribution Act-2003 within jurisdiction in the State of Punjab.
A meeting of State level Coordination Committee was held under chairmanship of Additional Chief Secretary Health, Mr. Satish Chanrda at Committee Room of Mini Secretariat. Mr. Satish Chandra stated that the sale of cigarette packet without having 85 percent of pictorial warning about tobacco causes cancer is crime. He directed the Excise department to take strict action against the offenders who were involved in the business of Illegal sale of imported cigarette packets and flavored/scanted tobacco products.
Punjab has already banned the sale and distribution of Flavored/scented chewable tobacco and Sale of E cigarettes in the state.
Dr. Nirlep Kaur, State Programme officer, National Tobacco Control Programme informed that as many as 16,828 challans issued to the violators and Rs.9.4 lakh collected as fine under anti tobacco campaign during April 2018 to December, 2018. She said that total 8733 tobacco users have been availed the services of Tobacco Cessation centers. Free Tobacco cessation counseling and medicines like Bupropion, Nicotine gums and patches are being provided in these centers to the patients who want to quit Tobacco use, said Dr. Kaur.