Smoking laws: DC gets directions

 

 

 

 

 

 

LUDHIANA: Acting on complaint of a city resident regarding violation of smoking laws in Satluj Club, Punjab State Human Rights Commission (PSHRC)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

has directed the deputy commissioner (DC) to take appropriate action.

Club member Ajay Singh Bhandari, bearing membership number 548, had, in his complaint lodged with the commission, alleged that the club authorities had converted a large part of the rummy room into a smoking zone, due to which, the elderly including women in the room were being put through a lot of trouble. Bhandari had alleged that the smoking area had not been constructed in keeping with norms of the notification issued by Union health ministry in which it had been clearly said that the smoking area should be built at a place where no other services are rendered by clubs or hotels.

Acting accordingly, the commission has said it is a case of human rights violation. Further, the commission, in its recent orders, disposed of the complaint, directing the DC, president of the club, to look into the matter.

Notably, this is not for the first time that the commission has issued directions to the DC to look into the matter. The complainant has been raising the issue over the last few months. He had lodged a complaint with the commission earlier too. The commission, in an order dated May 14, disposed of a complaint, directing the DC to look into it.

However, while no action was taken in this regard, in a letter written to the commission a few months back, Bhandari alleged that the state of affairs in the club was yet to improve. Smoking was being allowed all over the club including billiard room, bar room, club lawn and other places where people could be seen freely smoking, flouting government?s rules with impunity. He added that eatables, soft drinks and hard drinks were being served in the smoking area of the club.