E-Paper
To ban hookah bars, Section 144 imposed in Amritsar till April 18
In order to curb operational hookah bars in the city, deputy commissioner Amritsar Dr Basant Garg on Monday exercised Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) to ban the bars. The orders of the ban will be in force till April 18.
In order to curb operational hookah bars in the city, deputy commissioner Amritsar Dr Basant Garg on Monday exercised Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) to ban the bars. The orders of the ban will be in force till April 18.
Earlier, the officials of health department and COPTA (Cigarette and Tobacco Products Act 2003) had raided a number of lounges in the city, which had been serving tobacco molasses containing nicotine in garb of flavored hookas.
These existing hookah bars also failed to follow norms of smoking area violating laws under the COPTA act. A number of packets were confiscated as well the lounges were fined under the COPTA Act -2003.
The order refrains hotel, restaurant serving hookahs in their compound in any capacity.
Deputy commissioner, in his written order, stated that the ban was being imposed keeping in view the health of youngsters and students along with general public. The violators will be punished under Section 188 of the Indian Penal Code as per provisions of the COPTA, drug and cosmetics act.
Dr Naresh Chawla, nodal office for COPTA stated that this move will help to catch bars serving hookahs. He said, “This was essential considering the number of bars as well as health of general public.”
Dr Pradeep Chawla, civil surgeon, Amritsar said, “Earlier, other than challan, no action could be taken on the guilty, but now with imposition to this Section 144, one can be arrested. It will help to wipe out such networks strongly.”
