7-year jail, Rs 1 lakh fine for selling tobacco to minors in Bandipora

OwaisFarooqi

Bandipora, May 8

The district administration in north Kashmir’s Bandipora has issued a strict warning against the sale of cigarettes and other tobacco products to minors and within the vicinity of educational institutions, stating that violators may face imprisonment of up to seven years along with a fine of up to Rs 1 lakh.

Describing the offence as a punishable crime attracting “rigorous imprisonment for a term which may extend to seven years and shall also be liable to a fine which may extend up to one lakh rupees”, the Office of the District Magistrate Bandipora directed all vendors and sellers to “Immediately discontinue sale of tobacco products within 100 yards of any educational institution”.

The administration stated that the government has prohibited the sale of tobacco products to minors under the provisions of the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA), 2003, and the Juvenile Justice Act, 2015.

Quoting Section 6 of the COTPA, the notice stated: “No person shall sell, offer for sale, or permit sale of, cigarette or any other tobacco product” to “any person who is under eighteen years of age, and” “in an area within a radius of one hundred yards of any educational institution”.

To ensure enforcement, the administration directed all retailers, vendors, shopkeepers, distributors and the general public to strictly comply with the prescribed radius restrictions around educational institutions.

The notice further instructed sellers to “Verify the age of the purchaser through valid government-issued photo ID before sale”. It also ordered all establishments to “Cease employment of persons below 18 years in any capacity related to tobacco trade immediately”.

The administration also directed vendors to “Install the statutory warning board within 15 (fifteen) days from the date of this notice” and said the warning “Must display the message at a conspicuous place of the shop/establishment”.

Highlighting the penalties under Section 77 of the Juvenile Justice Act, 2015, the District Magistrate warned: “Whoever gives, or causes to be given, to any child any intoxicating liquor or any narcotic drug or tobacco products or psychotropic substance… shall be punishable with rigorous imprisonment for a term which may extend to seven years and shall also be liable to a fine which may extend up to one lakh rupees”.

The notice further stated that whenever a child is found under the influence of or in possession of tobacco products, police authorities “shall enquire into the matter” and “shall register an FIR forthwith”.

Warning of strict action, the administration said that “Non-compliance of the directions issued vide this notice shall attract the punishment as prescribed” under the COTPA and the Juvenile Justice Act. The district administration also appealed to the public to report violations directly to the police helpline 112 or the child helpline 1098.