Karnataka notifies legislation raising age to buy tobacco to 21, prohibiting their use in public
Bengaluru (PTI): 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.
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.
The act prohibits the sale of cigarettes or other tobacco products to a person below the age of twenty one years and in a particular area.
"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 Section 21, 24 and 28 of the Act, the fine for smoking in a public place and for sale of tobacco to people aged 21 and below, have been increased to from Rs 200 to Rs 1,000.
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Karnataka govt to strictly implement the paid menstrual leave policy, after HC directive
Bengaluru (PTI): Karnataka Labour Minister Santosh Lad has said that the government will strictly implement the paid menstrual leave policy across all sectors at the earliest, following the High Court directive.
The High Court of Karnataka had recently directed the state government to "strictly and faithfully" implement the menstrual leave policy, pending formal enactment of the proposed legislation.
"I welcome the directive issued by the Karnataka High Court in support of our state government's ambitious menstrual leave policy," Lad said.
The state government has taken firm steps to implement the menstrual leave policy comprehensively, and as a model to the country, he said in a post on 'X' on Thursday.
"In line with the court's opinion that menstrual leave is a matter of women's dignity, justice, and humane recognition of their lived realities, we will strictly implement the paid menstrual leave policy--equivalent to one day per month, or 12 days per year--across all sectors at the earliest," he added.
The court had said that in the interregnum, it shall be incumbent upon the state to ensure effective operationalisation of the policy through the issuance of suitable guidelines, circulars, and administrative instructions, as may be necessary to secure its uniform, consistent, and rigorous implementation across all sectors.
The court issued the directive while hearing on a petition filed by 41-year-old Chandravva Hanumant Gokavi, who works in a hotel in Mudalgi of Gokak taluk in Belagavi district, before the Dharwad bench, seeking implementation of the November 20, 2025, order of the government providing one-day menstrual leave for all working women.
