Leh, Dec 20: In a bid to uphold public health and safeguard educational spaces in Leh district, shopkeepers are receiving notices under Section 6-b of the Cigarette and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA) 2003. The law prohibits the sale of tobacco products within 100 yards of educational institutions.
According to official’s recent field visits by the enforcing team revealed persistent violations of this crucial regulation by certain shopkeepers. As a response, monitoring and enforcement drives are set to escalate in the coming days.
The Deputy Commissioner Leh, also serving as the Chairman of District Level Coordination Committee (DLCC) under the National Tobacco Control Programme (NTCP) in Leh, issued a stern warning.
Any shop found in breach of the law will face the immediate cancellation of Registration/License, without prior notice. This decisive action aligns with the legal framework established to curb the adverse impact of tobacco use, especially in close proximity to places of learning.