Ban on cigarettes, tobacco products in offices in Valley

SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir government today announced a ban on entry of persons carrying cigarettes and other tobacco products in its offices in the Valley. "No one shall be allowed to enter government offices with cigarettes and tobacco products," a notification issued by Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, Asgar Hassan Samoon said.

Sale of cigarettes within 100 yards of educational institutions is already prohibited. The notification said "it has been observed that some people, including officials, carry cigarettes and other tobacco products inside offices and are found smoking in public places."

Smoking in public places has been banned by government under Cigarette and Other Tobacco Products Act 2003. Earlier, addressing a seminar on anti-tobacco organised by Voluntary Health Association of India (VHAI) in collaboration with Divisional Administration Kashmir here, Samoon said all necessary measures would be taken to make Kashmir division smoke-free.

"Special squads will be constituted for imposing fine on anyone found smoking in public," he said and assured that all necessary measures would be taken for preventing sale of cigarettes to those under the age of 18 years.