A city advocate has filed a public interest litigation petition in the Madras High Court seeking a direction to the authorities concerned to strictly implement laws prohibiting smoking and spitting in public places.
G. Alex Benziger stated that The Cigarettes and other Tobacco Products (Prohibition of Advertisement and Regulation of Trade and Commerce, Production, Supply and Distribution) Act and the Tamil Nadu Prohibition of Smoking and Spitting Act were in force but not being implemented by the competent authority.
Passengers travelling in buses and trains and on two-wheeler riders smoked cigarettes and threw the butts in public places. Similarly, passengers spat out of running buses. No action was being taken against them.
Tobacco was a major public health hazard and responsible, directly or indirectly, for eight lakh deaths in the country annually. Central and State government officers authorised to take action were turning a blind eye to violators of the law. The provisions of the legislations should be complied with then and there strictly against wrong-doers, the petitioner said.
