Kohima, May 20 (DIPR): The Deputy Commissioner and DLCC Chairman, Rovilatuo Mor IAS has notified to all the Head of Department (HODs ) and all the concerned hotels/restaurant owners and managers to effectively implement Section 4 of COTPA 2003 – ‘Prohibition of smoking in public places’ by putting up signage boards prohibiting smoking in their respective Departments and in public places. The DC has therefore requested all the HODs and owners/managers of hotels and restaurant to abide and follow the instructions with immediate effect whereby defaulters will be fined as per the law.
It is also notified to all concerned colony Chairmen to send either a Gaon Bura or a Panchayat member as a member for the Tobacco Control Committee of Tobacco Free Schools in their respective colonies.
This notification was issued in exercise of the power conferred by Section 21, 24 and 25 of the Cigarettes and other Tobacco Products (Prohibition of advertisement and regulation of the trade and commerce, production, supply and distribution) Act 2003 and for effective implementation of Section 4,5,6,7 of COTPA 2003. The above Sections of COTPA 2003 will be implemented in Kohima District with immediate effect.
The Deputy Commissioner and DLCC Chairman, Rovilatuo Mor IAS has notified all the Shopkeepers to strictly abide and follow Section 6 of COTPA 2003- ‘Prohibition on sale of Cigarette or other Tobacco Products to a person below the age of 18 years’; ‘Prohibition on sale of Tobacco Products in an area within a radius of 100 yards of an educational Institution’.
It is notified that the signage specifications for Shops selling Tobacco Products to put up Signage boards measuring 60cmx30cm of minimum size; It should be displayed at a conspicuous place and the warning is in an applicable Indian Language. The Signage boards should read as follows “sale of tobacco products to a person under the age of 18 years is a punishable offence”. The DC further cautioned all the shopkeepers to strictly abide and follow Section 6 of COTPA 2003 whereby defaulters will be penalised.
