All police officials, equivalent to the rank of Head Constable or above, can now issue challans to the offenders of anti-tobacco laws in Punjab.
To ensure the strict compliance of Cigarette and Other Tobacco Products (Supply and Distribution) Act-2003 in the State, the State Government has issued the list of competent persons to issue challan who smoke tobacco at public places.
“Now, all police officials, equivalent to the rank of Head Constable or above and police officials who are authorised to issue traffic challan are also competent to act against any person who commits any offence under section 4 or section 6 of COTPA within jurisdiction in the State of Punjab,” said a Government spokesperson.
To review the action taken by stakeholder departments under State Tobacco Control Programme, a meeting of the state level Coordination Committee was held under the chairmanship of Additional Chief Secretary (Health) Satish Chandra at Committee Room of Mini Secretariat.
The State Programme officer of National Tobacco Control Programme, Dr Nirlep Kaur, informed that as many as 16,828 challans have been issued to the violators and Rs 9.4 lakh were collected as fine under anti-tobacco campaign during April to December 2018.