Spitting Tobacco In Public Now Banned In Karnataka And Maharashtra

Maharashtra and Karnataka have decided to ban the spitting of tobacco in public places. The step was taken to curb the spread of coronavirus.

Photo: Getty Images (Representational Image)

New Delhi: Karnataka announced that it has banned the use of smokeless tobacco i.e. chewing tobacco and pan masala along with spitting in public. Violators will be booked under sections IPC 188, 268, 269, 270. The ban has come after various other states in the country have announced similar bans, this is to curb the spread of Coronavirus. Similarly, Maharashtra has made spitting, smoking, and consumption of tobacco products in public punishable offenses. According to the IANS report, the State Health Minister Rajesh Tope made this announcement in a statement. The first-time violators will have to pay Rs 1,000 fine and perform public service for one day. Second-time offenders will have to pay Rs 3,000 fine and perform public service for three days. "After that, the punishment would be Rs 5000 fine and five days of public service," he said. Earlier states like Punjab and Haryana had also taken the decision to ban spitting in public in the face of rising coronavirus cases. In Punjab, Rs 500 penalty will be imposed for not wearing a mask and spitting in public places; Rs 2,000 for violating home-quarantine instructions and violating social distancing norms by owners of shops, commercial places, and public transport buses and auto-rickshaws; and Rs 3,000 for violating social distancing norms in cars. Non-payment of the fine would attract legal action under Section 188 of the Indian Penal Code as per the regulations framed under the Epidemic Diseases Act of 1897. Haryana too is going to fine Rs 500 from people who are found not wearing a mask or found spitting in public. Delhi Metros has increased the amount of the fine 5 times high, spitting in metro premises will result in Rs 1000 fine.