Check pan masala abuse by teens: HC
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In an attempt to curb the use of tobacco and pan masala by teenagers, especially school-going children, the Kerala high court has directed the state to immediately take a series of effective action.
The court, in its order on Monday, called for the setting up of School Protection Committees, and invoking the provisions of the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products (Prohibition of Advertisement and Regulation of Trade and Commerce, Production, Supply and Distribution) Act, 2003.
The court asked the authorities to strictly enforce the COTPA and ensure that no scenes of smoking are depicted in films, tele-serials and the other visual media.
The state should also strictly implement the provisions of the Prohibition on Sale of Cigarettes and other Tobacco products around education institutions Rules 2004, and ensure that no tobacco product of whatever nature is sold within the 100 yards radius, starting from the outer limit of the educational institutions.
A division bench comprising acting chief justice Manjula Chellur and justice A V Ramakrishna Pillai issued guidelines for the proper enforcement of the law, and observed that the situation was grave. “We note to our distress that the use of tobacco is spreading like cancer among the children and adolescents below the poverty line (BPL) to which the majority of the population belongs” the court held.
“The school protection committees shall be headed by the head of the institution, and will include selected parents, teachers, school leader and the local station house officer, “ the bench held.
The court asked the state to form state and district level monitoring committees. It said the district-level monitoring committees would include the district educational officer, the district medical officer, and the district police chief. They would periodically supervise the functioning of the school protection committees and initiate suitable action where required.
The district level committees shall meet at least once in every three months and will have powers to conduct surprise inspection of school premises and the surroundings to ensure that the directions are compiled with.
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