NEW DELHI, Dec 4 (NNN-PTI) – India has joined the group of countries that have imposed a complete ban on e-cigarettes. The Indian parliament’s Upper House, “Rajya Sabha,” passed the “Prohibition of Electronic Cigarettes Bill-2019” this week, after being passed in the Lower House, “Lok Sabha,” last week.
Earlier, in Sept the central government issued an Ordinance to ban e-cigarettes. The new law, passed by parliament, would replace the Ordinance, once it is signed by the president.
At the passage of the new legislation, the country’s Health Minister, Harsh Vardhan, said, “We have done it with very pious intention. There is no vested interest.”
The bill provides for imprisonment of up to one year, or a fine of up to 100,000 Indian Rupees, or both to a first time violator. And, for any subsequent offence, it says, the crime would be punishable with an imprisonment of up to three years, along with a fine of up to 500,000 Indian Rupees.
The bill contains provisions according to which no person would be allowed to use any place for the storage of any stock of e-cigarettes. If any person stores any stock of e-cigarettes, he will be imprisoned for up to six months, or slapped with a fine of up to fifty thousand rupees, or both, say the bill provisions.
Another provision says, if an authorised officer believes that any provision of the bill has been contravened, he can search any place where trade, production, storage or advertising of e-cigarettes is being undertaken.– NNN-PTI
