Finally, the Government of India has decided to take proper action on those who smoke in public places. The government is going to impose fine of Rs. 1,000 on people who allegedly smoke in public places. Until now the government used to collect a fine of Rs. 200, but this amount of fine does not make much impact on the public smokers. Now the government has decided to increase the fine from Rs. 200 to Rs. 1000/-.
According to the current rule that if a person is caught smoking in public places like bus stations or buses, railway stations, cinema halls, hospitals, libraries, government hospitals etc, he/she will be fined with Rs 200 penalty under Section 4 of the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act 2003 (COTPA), either by a police personnel or by health officials of the local municipalities or corporation.
The committee has also decided to increase the penalty of Rs 200 to Rs 1,000 for selling tobacco products to minors. Kerala has already adopted this and now Karnataka is going to implement the same. The decision will not only benefit the public who are suffering due to public smoking but the state government will earn good revenue.
The state Kerala has already adopted this and now Karnataka is going to implement the same. The decision will earn good revenue to the government. The decision will also benefit the public who are suffering due to public smoking.
