Dimapur, July 3 (MExN): In compliance of the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA) 2003, the Government of Nagaland through the office of the Deputy Commissioner, Dimapur has brought to notice of all the concerned that mandatory display of tobacco signage’s in all Government offices, schools, hotels and restaurants and other public places be put up within the month of July 2012 under their respective jurisdiction.
The minimum specification of the board/signage should be as follows: length of the board-60 cm; breadth of the board- 30 cm; red band should be no less than 3 cm.
Under COTPA, 2003 the following provisions are specified: prohibition of smoking in public places (Sec-4). Violation of this provision is liable for a penalty of Rs. 200; prohibition of advertisement of Cigarettes and other Tobacco Products (Sec-5). Violation of this provision carries a penalty of imprisonment of two years and a fine of Rs. 1000 or with both in the case of the first conviction. In the case of second or subsequent conviction, penalty is imprisonment for 5 years and fine which extends to Rs. 5000; prohibition of sale cigarette and tobacco products to person below the age of 18 years {Sec-6(A)}; prohibition of sale of Cigarettes and other Tobacco Products within the radius of 100 yards of any educational institutions {Sec-6(B)}. Violation of {Sec-6(A) and (B)} carries a penalty of Rs. 200.
The penalty against violation includes: Smoking in public places (Sec-4) is liable to pay a penalty of Rs 200; advertising tobacco products carries a penalty of imprisonment of two (2) years and a fine of Rs. 1000 (Sec-5). In case of second or subsequent conviction, penalty is imprisonment for five (5) years and fine which is extended to Rs.5000; selling of Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products within a radius of 100 yards carries a penalty of Rs. 200 {Sec-6 (A & B)}
Public places as defined in the Act and the rules means any places to which the public has access whether as of right or not and includes all places visited by general public and includes: auditorium, hospital building/health institution, restaurant, public office, educational institution, public conveyance, stadium, bus stop, shopping mall, refreshment room, coffee house, bar, prison & jail, hospital building, amusement centre, hotel, court building, libraries, open auditorium, railway station, workplace, cinema hall, discotheques, pub, airport lounge.
