Chandigarh Becomes First Smoke-Free City Of India

Chandigarh has taken a lead over other cities in becoming the country’s first smoke-free city as provisions of the Central Tobacco Control Act were implemented in all parts of the Union Territory from July 15, 2007.
The Chandigarh Administration has said that smoking cigarette or bidi or any form of tobacco at any public place is an offence, and officials notified by the administration including police officers, food and drug inspectors have been empowered to book on the spot any person found smoking at a public place.
Not just smoking, but throwing cigarette butts in open would be considered a violation and anyone doing so is liable to be fined.
On the first day of implementing the Act, the Administration carried out a special challan drive and within the first five days itself, 741 people had been fined for smoking in public places.
Any non-smoker aggrieved by unwilling exposure to tobacco smoke can make a complaint to the Chandigarh Police, Department of Health or Chandigarh Tobacco Control Cell in writing at any of the E-Jan Sampark centres.