The Jharkhand health department on Wednesday banned sale of tobacco products across the state on the assumption that their use would lead to a tendency to spit, adding to the spreading of the novel coronavirus. It also made covering the face compulsory in public places.

Violators of both directives will be booked under Section 188 of the IPC (disobeying a public servant’s order), which carries punishment from six months to two years in jail and fine of Rs 200.

The directive issued to the deputy commissioners and police heads in the 24 districts cites that the use of tobacco is a global health concern and spitting after chewing tobacco and sale of tobacco products such as cigarettes, bidis, paan masala, areca nuts, khaini and zarda is a public health hazard in view of Covid-19 pandemic, and directs for strict compliance of the order with immediate effect.

“Chewing and use of tobacco and subsequent spitting can lead to serious diseases like Covid-19, encephalitis, tuberculosis, etc,” said principal health secretary Nitin Madan Kulkarni. “In line with the Union home ministry directive of April 15 for Covid-19 management and as per the power enshrined under the Disaster Management Act, 2005, Article 10 (2) sub-clause (1), the government has decided to ban sale and use of tobacco products in public places till further orders.”

L.R. Pathak, the state nodal officer for national tobacco control programme, said districts have been asked to ensure strict compliance.

“Violators would face legal action under Section 188 of the IPC. Under no circumstances would tobacco sales be allowed anywhere in the state. As of now due to the lockdown shops selling tobacco products are not doing it openly but after this order if they even try to do it clandestinely the police have the power to prosecute them,” Pathak said.

Jharkhand had earlier issued a directive making spitting in public places an offence under Section 188 of the IPC in view of the Covid-19 pandemic and the Union home ministry directive.

“The district administrations have already made spitting in public an offence and offices have been no-tobacco zones in view of the Covid-19 pandemic,” Pathak said.

Deepak K. Mishra, executive director, Socio Economic and Educational Development Society, who is also a member of the state tobacco control programme, cited the Global Adult Tobacco Survey 2017 figures which state that nearly 38.9 per cent of adults use tobacco in some form or the other in Jharkhand.“There have been challenges in enforcing provision of the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Acts, 2003, in Jharkhand specially in terms of sale of tobacco products within 100 yards of educational institutions,” Mishra said. “However, with the administration cracking down due to Covid-19, this time it would be dealt with in a strong manner.

Mask mandatory

In another order issued on Wednesday, principal health secretary Kulkarni, citing the Union home ministry directive on Covid-19 management Clause 1, directed all deputy commissioners and police heads to ensure that covering the face, either with a mask or cloth, is made compulsory in all public places and workplaces.

Violators would be prosecuted under Section 188 of the IPC, the order said.