Smoking hubs continue to thrive on Delhi University campus despite a ban on sale of tobacco products within 100 yards of any educational institution. To keep a check on this, Delhi High Court recently ordered immediate closure of such outlets near DU landmarks, including Miranda House Hostel, PG Men’s Hostel, Jubilee Hall and Law Faculty.
Confirming the development, DCP (north), I.B. Rani said, “We have our task force present there near the main smoking hubs to keep vigilance. All DCPs have been directed to enforce the ban and book the violators. Strict action will be taken against people who violate the law. This law bans vendors from selling tobacco products within 100 yards of schools, colleges and hospitals and prescribes a penalty of `1,000 on errant vendors,” she says.
As the campus was declared a “non-smoking’ area last year, will this check make any difference in improving the situation? DU students feel the rules are in place, and it depends on how strongly they are monitored by the authority.
Aditya Saxena from Shri Ram College of Commerce says, “There are still smaller hubs that exist outside and even inside the campus. I think the presence of police near these hubs should be more, it has come down drastically from last year. Every year they bring up this initiative, but they should impose it better. They should impose it strictly atleast for the first two years, and fine and penalise students so that students fear smoking in the campus.”
Talking about DU smoking hub, Kamini Dhar says, “Students openly smoke in and near the campus. Places like Kamla Nagar market; outlets near DCE are full of students who smoke without any guilt. Patel Chest, next to Khalsa College, even has a police post close by. The authorities have to be pro-active in executing the ban.”