Action against public smokers: No fire from Nagaland

Dimapur, November 23: Frequent anti-tobacco campaigns and ‘smoke-free’ programs in Nagaland seem to be all smoke and no fire. Nagaland is among several states in the country that are, well, not too fired up when it comes to prosecuting smokers. Assam, Mizoram, and Sikkim are among those that frequently take action against people who smoke in public, data from the Ministry of Health & Family Affairs shows. According to the Minister of State (Health and Family Welfare), Anupriya Patel, Section-4 of the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products (Prohibition of Advertisement, Regulation of Trade and Commerce, Production, Supply and Distribution) Act, 2003 (COTPA, 2003) prohibits smoking in public places. The minister was placing the data before the Lok Sabha on November 18. As per Section-21 of the COTPA of 2003, whoever contravenes the provisions of Section-4 shall be punishable with fine which may extend to two hundred rupees. Further, an offence under this Section shall be compoundable and shall be tried summarily in accordance with the procedure provided for summary trials under the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973. The status of the number of people fined under Section-4, 5, 6 and Section 7 of the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products (Prohibition of Advertisement, Regulation of Trade and Commerce, Production, Supply and Distribution) Act, 2003 (COTPA, 2003) as per the information received from the states for the period from April 2012 to September 2015)