Face2News/Chandigarh
As per the directions issued by Advisor to the Administrator, Chandigarh Administration (U.T.) and the able guidance of Secretary Health & Additional Secretary Health, Chandigarh Administration, a Joint Team led by the officers of the Department of the Health & Family Welfare and comprising officials of the Health Department, Police Department, Excise & Taxation Department, Department of Legal Metrology, Food Safety & Drug Control wing conducted a joint raid for enforcement of tobacco control in Chandigarh on Monday and imposed fine.
Parmod Kumar Gupta, S/o Bal Kishan Tikariya, # H.No. 17, Near Khera Mandir, Sector-3, Panchkula in Shop No. 3 at Punjab Civil Secretariat, Sec-1, Chandigarh was found to have stock and selling loose and imported cigarettes. There were no appropriate Section 6a Signages under COTPA 2003.
(SUBHEAD)Ram Dass S/o Sh. Tulsi Ram # Bhairampur Gonda, UP-271122, in Shop M/s Ambari Chaurasia Paan, Booth No. 159, Sec-28D, Chandigarh-160002 was found to have stock and selling loose cigarettes. There were no appropriate Section 6a signages under COTPA 2003.
Puneet Chowdhry S/o Sh. D.K Chowdhry # 184/1, 45-A, Chandigarh in Shop M/s Express Communication, Shop No. 180, Sec-28D, Chandigarh-160002 was found to have stock and selling loose and imported cigarettes. There were no appropriate Section 6a signages under COTPA 2003.
Mrs. Shakuntala W/o K.R Sardana, #3102, Sec-28D, Chandigrah in shop M/s Popular Confectionery, Shop No. 190, Sec-28D, Chandigarh-160002 was found to have stock and selling loose cigarettes. There were no appropriate Section 6a signages under COTPA 2003.
The fines were imposed upon the shopkeepers by the Health Department Chandigarh and by the Excise Department amounting to Rs. 10,500/- Illegal imported cigarettes were seized by the Excise Department worth around Rs.2,100/- in the wholesale market, with a much higher retail value on which there was no mandatory 85% pictorial pack warning. Loose Cigarettes worth Rs. 81,000/- approximately were self destroyed by the vendors/retailers.
The Director Health & Family Welfare Chandigarh U.T. Dr. Suman Singh assured that such raids shall be continued in future by the Permanent Task Force constituted by the Chandigarh Administration to make the public more aware about the National Tobacco Control Programme (NTCP), COTPA Act, 2003 and the harmful effects of tobacco consumption and to prevent sale of illegal imported cigarettes.
