Another warning issued as 21-yr old rules yet to be implemented

SMOKING IN GOVT OFFICES

JAMMU: Twenty-one years after it banned the cigarette smoking in all government offices of Jammu and Kashmir, the state government is yet to get past the hurdles as evident from repeated instruction seeking implementation of the said prohibition issued time and again.

On Thursday, the state government once again reprimanded its officer to ensure the ban is practiced while urging them to initiate appropriate penal action against the defaulters.

The sorry state of affairs could be gauzed from the fact that it had to call for ensuring ban on carrying cigarette and other tobacco products within the premises of the Civil Secretariat, the seat of government currently active in winter capital Jammu.

In an official communication issued on Thursday, the government lamented that despite issuing instruction from time to time, the concerned officers have failed to strictly enforce the provisions of the Cigarettes and other Tobacco Products (Prohibition of Advertisement and Regulation of Trade and Commerce, Production, Supply and Distribution) Act, 2003 and Rules.

The official communication cited the number of SROs issued in the past in this regard, asserting that they have failed to make any impact.

“Despite that (issuing of circular instructions), instances of violation are being reported from the various quarters which has been viewed seriously by the authorities,” it read.

“It is therefore, once again impressed upon all the concerned authorities- Administrative Secretaries/Divisional Commissioners/Heads of Departments/Deputy Commissioners and Managing Directors of Public Sector Undertaking- to ensure strict implementation of the ban imposed on smoking in all Government Offices and initiate appropriate penal action against the defaulters under Rules,” it said.

It may be mentioned here that the government, based on the Cabinet Decision No:92/10 dated 24-04- 1997, had banned smoking in all Government offices of the State.

It has also provided for fine upto Rs. 200 for whosoever violates the rules, an offence which is to tried summarily in accordance with the procedure provided for summary trials in the Code of Criminal

Procedure.

However, communications such as Thursday’s only tell the sad state of affairs even in government offices, even as the government is fighting the drug menace in the state which is rising exponentially with each passing day.

The communication further instructed the Superintendent of Police (Security), Civil Secretariat to ensure that nobody is allowed to carry cigarettes and other tobacco products within the premises of the Civil Secretariat.

“Also bring in to the notice of the concerned Administrative Secretary the case of spitting/chewing if any detected for appropriate action against the delinquent employee(s),” it read.