Pb minister orders 'stern action' against tobacco law violators

Punjab's Health Minister Brahm Mohindra today issued instructions to the nominated nodal officers (DSPs/SSPs) of the police department to take stern action against violators of anti-tobacco laws.

Mohindra issued the instructions at a meeting held to review the implementation of anti-tobacco laws, an official release said, adding that it was also attended by State Tobacco Control Cell and the Punjab police personnel.

The health minister stressed on the importance of the role of police for the effective implementation of anti-tobacco laws across the state.

"Health department will now work in close collaboration with the police department to curb the sale of tobacco products to minors," the release quoted Mohindra as saying.

"To permanently ban hookah/hookah bars in the state, a bill has been passed by the legislative assembly in March 2018," he said.

Nodal officers have been imparted special training to book repeat offenders and shopkeepers selling tobacco and other banned products to minors, the release said.

Quoting Nodal Officer of State Tobacco Control Areet Kaur, the release said 626 villages in Punjab had been declared tobacco-free.