JOINT TOBACCO CONTROL RAID CONDUCTED IN CHANDIGARH; VIOLATORS FINED, CIGARETTES SEIZED AND DESTROYED

Face2News/Chandigarh

Acting on the directions of the Chief Secretary, Chandigarh Administration, and under the guidance of the Secretary Health and Additional Secretary Health, a joint team led by officers of the Department of Health & Family Welfare conducted raids across Chandigarh today to enforce tobacco control provisions.

The team comprised officials from the Health Department, Police Department, Excise & Taxation Department, Legal Metrology Department, and Food Safety & Drug Control Wing.

During the inspections, violations of the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA), 2003, and the Excise Act were detected. The details of the action taken are as follows:

Royal Confectioners, Sector-35 C

Shri Dev Rao, son of Shri Jamala Prasad, resident of House No. 3296, Sector-35 D, Chandigarh, operating Royal Confectioners, a unit of Chaurasia Pan, Booth No. 468-C, Sector-35 C, was found selling cigarettes without proper bills and the requisite signage. The prescribed signage under Section 6(a) of COTPA, 2003, was not displayed.

The Health Department imposed a fine of ₹1,000, while the Excise Department imposed a fine of ₹500. The Excise Department seized 12 packets of cigarettes worth ₹3,600 for which proper bills were unavailable. Additionally, the vendor voluntarily destroyed 60 packets of loose cigarettes worth ₹18,000.

Kiosk outside Scotch Club, Sector-44 D

Shri Ajay Kumar Sahu, son of Shri Surendra Prasad, resident of Motihari, Bihar, operating a kiosk outside Scotch Club, Sector-44 D, was found in possession of loose cigarettes. The prescribed signage under Section 6(a) of COTPA, 2003, was not displayed.

The Health Department and Excise Department imposed fines of ₹500 each. The Excise Department seized two packets of imported cigarettes worth ₹600. Additionally, five packets of loose cigarettes worth ₹1,500 were destroyed.

Nankhu Pan & Confectionery, Sector-44 D

Shri Nankhu, son of Shri Lalta Prasad, resident of House No. 508, Kajheri, Sector-52, Chandigarh, operating Nankhu Pan & Confectionery, Booth No. 400, Sector-44 D, was found in possession of loose and imported cigarettes. The prescribed signage under Section 6(a) of COTPA, 2003, was not displayed.

The Health Department and Excise Department imposed fines of ₹1,000 each. The Excise Department seized 36 packets of cigarettes worth ₹10,800 for which proper bills were unavailable. Additionally, 75 packets of loose cigarettes worth ₹20,000 and 20 packets of hookah flavours were destroyed.

Kiosk opposite Police Station, Sector-45 C

Shri Rajendra Kumar, son of Shri Lal Bahadur, resident of Juipeur, Uttar Pradesh, operating a kiosk opposite the Police Station, Sector-45 C, was found in possession of loose cigarettes. The prescribed signage under Section 6(a) of COTPA, 2003, was not displayed.

The Health Department and Excise Department imposed fines of ₹500 each. The Excise Department seized two packets of imported cigarettes worth ₹600. Additionally, 10 packets of tobacco products worth ₹3,000 were seized and destroyed.

Kiosk outside The Liquor Lounge, Sector-36 D

Shri Akash Kumar, son of Shri Nathuni Prasad, resident of Village Daria, Chandigarh, operating a kiosk outside The Liquor Lounge, SCO 232-C, Sector-36 D, was found in possession of loose cigarettes. The prescribed signage under Section 6(a) of COTPA, 2003, was not displayed.

The Health Department and Excise Department imposed fines of ₹500 each. Additionally, 10 packets of tobacco products worth ₹3,000 were seized and destroyed.

Clock Owl 24×7 Store, Sector-36 D

Ms. Sonia, daughter of Shri Sehaj Ram, resident of House No. 1058, Burail, Sector-45, Chandigarh, operating Clock Owl 24×7 Store, SCO 231-B, Sector-36 D, was found in possession of loose cigarettes. The prescribed signage under Section 6(a) of COTPA, 2003, was not displayed.

The Health Department and Excise Department imposed fines of ₹500 each. Additionally, 60 packets of loose cigarettes worth ₹18,000 were destroyed.

The Health Department, Excise Department and Legal Metrology Department imposed fines totalling ₹5,500 on the shopkeepers. The Excise Department also seized illegal/imported cigarettes with an estimated wholesale value of ₹7,500 and a considerably higher retail value. These cigarette packets did not carry the mandatory 85 per cent pictorial health warning. Additionally, retailers/vendors voluntarily destroyed 220 packets of loose cigarettes worth ₹63,500.

Dr. Suman Singh, Director, Health & Family Welfare, Chandigarh, stated that the Permanent Task Force constituted by the Chandigarh Administration would continue such enforcement drives. These efforts aim to raise public awareness about the National Tobacco Control Programme (NTCP), COTPA, 2003, the Prohibition of Electronic Cigarettes Act (PECA), 2019, and the harmful effects of tobacco consumption, while preventing the sale of illegal imported cigarettes.