The District Magistrate of Ri-Bhoi has passed an order under Section 144 of the CrPC prohibiting smoking in public places, it was announced today.
The order was passed after receiving reports that vendors, stalls and other shopkeepers are openly selling cigarettes and other tobacco products to minor in market places and near educational institutions.
The district administration reminded the public that there is a ban on the sale of cigarettes and other tobacco products to any person who is under eighteen (18) years of age and in an area within a radius of 100 yards of any educational institution.
Public places under the smoking ban rule include auditoriums, hospitals, amusement centres, restaurants, public offices, court buildings, educational institutions, libraries and public transport.
In addition, the District Magistrate also directed all heads of departments, managers, principals, etc to display “No Smoking” signs in their respective offices or premises while vendors, stalls and other shops where tobacco products are sold shall display a notice containing the warning “sale of cigarettes and other tobacco products to a person under the age of 18 years is strictly prohibited and is a punishable offence”.
