No smoking in public places from Oct.2

Private offices and other establishments can no longer take the cover of having designated rooms for puffing cigarettes. Health Minister Anbumani Ramadoss said on Tuesday that a blanket ban on smoking in public places will be strictly enforced from October 2. Although in metros, smokers and tobacco chewers openly flout the law, some termed it as ridiculous. India, exports one fourth of its total annual tobacco output, which is nearly 545 million kilograms.