After massive outrage, Transport Minister issues order banning tobacco advertisements in state RTCs
Bengaluru: Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy has issued an order directing all four state transport corporations to immediately ban direct and indirect advertisements promoting tobacco products on their buses, within bus stand premises and bus stops.
This comes after massive outrage from the public over bus-wrap out-of-home (OOH) advertisements displayed on state-run buses across Karnataka.
In the order, the minister has directed that no advertisements encouraging the consumption of tobacco products should be displayed on buses operated by the transport corporations or at bus stands with immediate effect.
The order further states that if any such advertisements are already in place, a specific timeline must be fixed for their removal.
“Strict instructions have been issued to the concerned authorities to ensure that all tobacco-related advertisements are removed within the stipulated period,” the order added.
Speaking to Vartha Bharathi, an official said that, “the directive applies to all four transport corporations, KSRTC, BMTC, NWKRTC, and KKRTC. The managing directors of the respective corporations will be responsible for ensuring the removal of the advertisements and overseeing compliance.”
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MP primary school teacher suspended for mimicking PM over LPG prices, uploading video of act
Shivpuri (PTI): A government school teacher in Madhya Pradesh's Shivpuri district was suspended after a video of him mimicking Prime Minister Narendra Modi while making satirical remarks on LPG cylinder prices went viral on social media, an official said on Saturday.
Saket Purohit, a teacher at the government primary school in Adivasi Mohalla Semarkhedi under Pohri block, was suspended with immediate effect late Friday night under the Madhya Pradesh Civil Services Rules, District Education Officer Vivek Srivastava told PTI.
In the video, Purohit can be heard stating that increase in gas prices would make people return to eating rotis cooked on traditional stoves, which would narrow the gap between the rich and the poor.
The probe by the district education office began after the video went viral, resulting in submission of a written complaint by Pichhore BJP MLA Preetam Lodhi.
In his complaint, Lodhi claimed such remarks and mimicry of the prime minister and public representatives by a government teacher violated service conduct rules and conveyed an inappropriate message to society.
Purohit was placed under suspension after the inquiry found that his act was contrary to the conduct rules applicable to government servants, Srivastava informed.
During the suspension period, Purohit would be posted at the block education office in Badarwas and he would be entitled to subsistence allowance as per rules, the official added.
A defiant Purohit, however, told reporters the action of suspending him was one-sided and that he neither received a show-cause notice nor was he given an opportunity to present his side.
"Action taken without a hearing is not justified," Purohit claimed.
