Mumbai: Bombay High Court today ordered Maharashtra education department to issue directives to all educational institutions to put up display boards outside their premises stating that sale and consumption of cigarettes and any tobacco product is banned within 100 meters.
A division bench of Chief Justice Mohit Shah and Justice M S Sanklecha was hearing a public interest litigation filed by advocate Dinar Sohoni stating that no educational institute was following the rules of the Cigarette and Other Tobacco Products (Prohibition) Act (COTPA).
“As per Rule 3 of the central government enactment rules under the Act, all educational institutes have to put up display boards prominently outside their premises stating that sale and consumption of cigarette and tobacco products is strictly prohibited,” the petition states.
According to the petition, no college or school across the city and state has implemented the rule.
“The petitioner had written letters to several colleges, the Mumbai University and state education ministers but no reply was given,” the petition said.
The bench today asked the state education department to direct all educational institutions to implement the rule and put up display boards expeditiously.
—PTI

KR Desk