Public Smoking Banned in Bihar

Patna: Oct. 1, 2008

Inching slowly but surely towards the proverbial Orwellian society, the state government, at the behest of Union Health Minister Dr. Ambumani Ramadoss on Wednesday, declared Bihar a no-smoking zone effective immediately to coincide with the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi.

In a letter written to Bihar Health Minister Nand Kishore Yadav, Ramadoss urged him to implement the no-smoking, no guthka policy in the state and initiate social programs to raise awareness of the ills of tobacco products.

All District Magistrates in Bihar have been notified to strictly implement the new policy that includes an on-the-spot fine of Rs. 200 for anyone found smoking in public places.

Restaurants, hotels, bars, coffees shops, railway stations, bus stands, airports, shopping centers, school and college campuses, government offices, movie theaters, stadium, and public restrooms are some of the places where smoking has been banned with strict punitive actions in the event of any violation, officials said in Patna.

The new no-smoking rule also limits cigarette and bidi vendors to sell within 100 meters of any school or college campus or display tobacco products in their shops.

Business owners are required to put up no-smoking signs outside their business establishments and not provide customers with ashtrays, lighters, or matches.

The notification, however, does not mention anything about smoking within one's private home or other property or smoking in a private vehicle.

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