The India Post, Chandigarh, 12th November,2008 : The Chandigarh Administration has constituted a Monitoring Committee to enforce the provisions of Section 5 of the Cigarettes and other Tobacco Products (Prohibition of Advertisement and Regulation of Trade and Commerce, Production, Supply and Distribution) Act 2003.The Committee would be chaired by Secretary Health and Family Welfare while Representative of the Inspector General of Police, UT, Director Health and Family Welfare, Dr. Sandeep Jassal from Sanjivani Community Health Services Health Care (NGO) and Dr. Dheeraj Gupta (Academician) would be its member.
The Committee would provide a forum where the public may lodge a complaint regarding direct indirect/ surrogate advertisements of tobacco and allied products in media (print as well as electronic) and take action on the same as per procedure. The committee will further review the action taken by the committee for enforcement of the Section 5 of the Indian Tobacco Control Act of 2003. The committee will immediately bring to the notice of the Chandgiarh Administration and the Central Government if any programme is affecting public order.
The committee will ensure its regular meetings and see whether the authorized officers are effectively performing their duties and take decision on the matters relating to COTPA, 2003. The committee would collect data/ information and forward it to the Ministry of health and Family Welfare, Government of India from time to time or as may be prescribed by the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare. The committee would also recommend and initiate action in specific cases of violation of Section 5 of the Indian Tobacco Control Act brought to the notice of the committee.