Latest news with #KarnatakaAmendment
Hans India
a day ago
- Health
- Hans India
Govt hikes tobacco fine to Rs 1,000
Bengaluru: The Karnataka government has published a gazette notification increasing the fine for public use of cigarettes and tobacco products from Rs 200 to Rs 1,000. The government has also raised the minimum legal age for purchasing cigarettes and tobacco products from 18 to 21 years, according to a statement issued by the Health Ministry on Saturday. Additionally, the government has banned the opening or operation of hookah bars across the state. The order has been issued in the name of the Governor by the Secretary, Department of Parliamentary Affairs and Legislation, G. Sridhar. This decision follows the assent of President Droupadi Murmu on May 23 to the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products (Prohibition of Advertisement and Regulation of Trade and Commerce, Production, Supply and Distribution) (Karnataka Amendment) Bill, 2024. The new Act amends the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act, 2003 (Central Act 34 of 2003) as it applies to the state of Karnataka. The amendment specifies that no person shall use tobacco products in any public place. The term 'use' includes both smoking and spitting of tobacco. The sale of cigarettes or other tobacco products is now prohibited: To any person under the age of 21 years; within a 100-meter radius of any educational institution; in loose form or as single sticks. The Act also states that no person shall open or operate a hookah bar, either individually or on behalf of another person, in any location—including eating houses, pubs, bars, or restaurants—regardless of what they are called. According to the new provisions, anyone who violates Section 4A of the Act shall be punishable with: Imprisonment of not less than one year, which may extend up to three years; a fine of not less than Rs 50,000, which may go up to Rs 1 lakh. The Act further allows that in hotels with 30 or more rooms, restaurants with a seating capacity of 30 or more, and at airports, a designated smoking area or space may be provided. Karnataka joins the league of Rajasthan, Maharashtra, and Gujarat states, which have implemented similar amendments to strengthen public health protections against tobacco use.
New Indian Express
2 days ago
- Politics
- New Indian Express
President nod for Act to dispose of civil disputes in two months in Karnataka
BENGALURU: President Draupadi Murmu has given assent for the Code of Civil Procedure (Karnataka Amendment) Bill, 2024. The presidential assent was given on May 19. This was notified in the Karnataka Gazette (extraordinary) on May 26. The Act comes into force with the amendment to the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908, for the purpose of expeditious disposal of cases of civil dispute in nature and providing speedy justice. It has scope for disposal through mediation by the Legal Services Authorities between the parties within two months and, if failed, by two years with the dates of judgment being certain. 'Notwithstanding anything contained in the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987, the Authority authorised by the State Government shall complete the process of mediation within a period of two months from the date of reference Provided that the period of mediation may be extended for a further period of one month with the consent of the parties.' If the parties to the civil dispute arrive at a settlement, the same shall be reduced into writing and shall be signed by the parties to the dispute and the mediator and shall be submitted to the court. The court shall effect a compromise between the parties and shall follow the procedure as prescribed. The court shall hold the first case management hearing, not later than four weeks from the date of completion of pleadings in the suit. The court shall ensure that the arguments are closed not later than 24 months from the date of the first case management hearing. Law Minister HK Patil had remarked that the new Act will be a game changer in terms of clearing the huge pendency of civil dispute cases.
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Business Standard
3 days ago
- Business Standard
Karnataka hikes legal smoking age to 21, bans hookah bars, public smoking
The Karnataka government on Saturday introduced a new law that raises the legal age for buying tobacco products to 21 from 18. Additionally, it has banned hookah bars and public smoking, and said it will introduce strict penalties for any violations. The new rules were notified on May 30, a week after the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products (Karnataka Amendment) Bill 2024 received the President's approval on May 23. Coincidently, May 30 also marks 'World No Tobacco Day'. While smoking, and chewing or spitting tobacco is banned in public, there are exemptions for specific places like hotels and airports. It allows the creation of a dedicated smoking zone in hotels with at least thirty rooms, restaurants that can seat thirty or more people, and airports. Hookah bars, which had become popular with a younger demographic are to be closed entirely. As per the new provision, "No person shall, either on his own or on behalf of any other person, open or run any hookah bar in any place, including the eating house, pub, bar, or restaurant by whatever name it is called." Anyone found operating a hookah bar will face a minimum jail term of one year, which can extend up to three years as well as a fine of at least ₹50,000, which may go up to ₹100,000. Sales of tobacco and related products are also banned near schools or colleges. "No person shall sell, offer for sale, or permit the sale of cigarettes or any other tobacco products to any person who is under the age of twenty-one years," the new rules say. "It cannot be sold in an area within a radius of one hundred meters of any educational institution, and it cannot be sold in loose or in single sticks." Also, the penalty for smoking in public and for selling tobacco to those under 21 has gone up significantly from ₹200 to ₹1,000.
Mint
3 days ago
- Mint
Karnataka raises legal age for tobacco consumption to 21, prohibits hookah bars
Karnataka government has notified a legislation which now prohibits hookah bars, and has raised the legal age for buying tobacco products to 21 years. It has also increased the fines for the violation of these laws. Earlier, the legal age to buy tobacco products in the state was 18 years. The new law prohibits the sale of cigarettes or other tobacco products to a person below the age of twenty one years, and has also increased the fines for smoking in a public place and for sale of tobacco to people aged 21 and below, from ₹ 200 to ₹ 1,000. The notification was issued on May 30, following the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products (Prohibition of Advertisement and Regulation of Trade and Commerce, Production, Supply and Distribution) (Karnataka Amendment) Bill, 2024, receiving the assent of the President on May 23. The Act that prohibits the use of tobacco products in public places says, no person shall use tobacco products in any public place. As per the Act, the 'use' of tobacco means smoking and spitting of tobacco. However, in a hotel having thirty rooms or a restaurant having seating capacity of thirty persons or more and in airports, a separate provision for smoking area or space may be made, it added. The section 4A of the Act, prohibits opening or running of hookah bars. "No person shall either on his own or on behalf of any other person shall open or run any hookah bar, in any place including the eating house or pub or bar or restaurant by whatever name it is called," it said. According to the Act, "hookah" bar means an establishment or place where people gather to smoke tobacco or other similar products from a communal hookah or narghile, which is provided individually. Regarding punishment for running hookah bar, the Act says, whoever contravenes the provisions of section 4A, shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which shall not be less than one year but may extend to three years and with fine which shall not be less than fifty thousand rupees but may extend up to one lakh rupees. 'No person shall sell, offer for sale or permit the sale of cigarettes or any other tobacco products to any person who is under the age of twenty one years. It cannot be sold in an area within a radius of one hundred meters of any educational institution; and it cannot be sold in loose or in single sticks,' the Act added.
Hindustan Times
3 days ago
- Hindustan Times
Karnataka bans Hookah bars, raises age for tobacco consumption to 21
The Karnataka government has notified a legislation that prohibits hookah bars, raises the legal age for buying tobacco products from 18 to 21 years, and increases the fine for violations. The notification was issued on May 30, following the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products (Prohibition of Advertisement and Regulation of Trade and Commerce, Production, Supply and Distribution) (Karnataka Amendment) Bill, 2024, receiving the assent of the President on May 23. The Act that prohibits the use of tobacco products in public places says, No person shall use tobacco products in any public place. It says, "use" means smoking and spitting of tobacco. Also Read | For first time in 125 years, Karnataka records highest rainfall in May: Siddaramaiah However, in a hotel having thirty rooms or a restaurant having a seating capacity of thirty persons or more, and in airports, a separate provision for a smoking area or space may be made, it added. Section 4A of the Act prohibits the opening or running of hookah bars. "No person shall either on his own or behalf of any other person shall open or run any hookah bar, in any place including the eating house or pub or bar or restaurant by whatever name it is called," it said. Also Read | Karnataka issues fresh Covid-19 guidelines for schools ahead of reopening. Check details here According to the Act, "hookah" bar means an establishment or place where people gather to smoke tobacco or other similar products from a communal hookah or narghile, which is provided individually. Regarding punishment for running hookah bar, the Act says, whoever contravenes the provisions of section 4A, shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which shall not be less than one year but may extend to three years and with fine which shall not be less than fifty thousand rupees but may extend up to one lakh rupees. The act prohibits the sale of cigarettes or other tobacco products to a person below the age of twenty-one years in a particular area. Also Read | 'All Kamal Haasan films to be banned in Karnataka', says minister after actor refuses to apologise on Kannada remark row "No person shall sell, offer for sale or permit the sale of cigarettes or any other tobacco products to any person who is under the age of twenty-one years. It cannot be sold in an area within a radius of one hundred meters of any educational institution; and it cannot be sold in loose or in single sticks," it said. Under Sections 21, 24 and 28 of the Act, the fine for smoking in a public place and for the sale of tobacco to people aged 21 and below has been increased from ₹200 to ₹1,000.
