(MOREPIC1)(MOREPIC2)Face2News/Chandigarh
A joint team led by officers from the Department of Health & Family Welfare, alongside officials from the Police Department, Excise & Taxation Department, Department of Legal Metrology, and Food Safety & Drug Control Wing, conducted a significant enforcement raid to address tobacco control violations across Chandigarh.
During the raid, Sh. Ramdas, who operates Chourasiya Pan at 28/1, Sector 18, Chandigarh, was found in possession of loose cigarette stock without the required Section 6A signage under COTPA 2003. As a result, a fine of Rs. 200 was imposed by the Department of Health, and four packets of loose cigarettes worth Rs. 800 were destroyed.
Additionally, Ankit Chaurasia, operating Chourasiya Sons at 29/1, Sector 18, Chandigarh, was found with a stock of imported cigarettes lacking purchase records and without the necessary Section 6A signage. The Health Department imposed a fine of Rs. 10,000, and the Department of Legal Metrology imposed an additional Rs. 5,000 fine. In total, 35 packets of imported cigarettes valued at Rs. 11,500 were seized, and 50 packets of loose cigarettes worth Rs. 10,000 were destroyed.
(SUBHEAD)Furthermore, the joint team uncovered a large cache of 335 e-cigarettes (vapes) with a retail value estimated at Rs. 10 Lakhs from Ankit Chaurasia's shop. These items, banned under Sections 4 and 5 of the Prohibition of Electronic Cigarettes Act (PECA) 2019, were seized and formally handed over to the Sector-19 Police Station for further action under PECA 2019.
In total, the fines imposed by the Health Department, Excise & Taxation Department, Police Department, and Department of Legal Metrology amounted to approximately Rs. 15,000. In addition, the Excise & Taxation Department seized illegal imported cigarettes valued at around Rs. 11,500 in the wholesale market, which were found to be lacking the mandatory 85% pictorial health warnings and had evaded Customs, Excise, and GST regulations.
Such raids will continue as part of the Permanent Task Force initiative launched by the Chandigarh Administration. These efforts aim to increase public awareness about the National Tobacco Control Programme (NTCP), COTPA 2003, PECA 2019, and the severe health risks associated with tobacco consumption, while actively preventing the sale of illegal imported tobacco products.
