HYDERABAD: In the interest of public health and safety, especially bearing in mind the spread of Covid-19, the state government on Wednesday promulgated the ban on spitting pan, any form of chewable tobacco or non-tobacco products and sputum in public places, institutions and streets once again.
The government had imposed a ban on spitting in public places earlier also, but it was hardly enforced.
“The Covid-19 pandemic has brought to the fore the importance of hygiene and cleanliness in both personal as well as public spheres. There is a dire need to impose restrictions on unhealthy practices that may potentially lead to spread of such viruses and other infections,” said A Santhi Kumari, special chief secretary, health, medical and family welfare department, in a government order.
She said, “In the interest of public health and safety, spitting of pan, any chewable tobacco or non-tobacco product and sputum is banned.”
The Epidemic Diseases Act gives the civic authorities the power to enact the rules. Violators can be booked under section 188 of the IPC, which prescribes a punishment of up to six months or a fine of up to Rs 1,000 or both.
According to section 327(2) of the GHMC Act, 1955, a person can be imprisoned for a month or fined up to Rs 5,000 if he/she spits in public places. “There is a need to implement the existing laws. An anti-spitting law that can be implemented by both the health and municipal authorities like in Maharasthra is the need of the hour,” principal secretary, municipal administration and urban development (MA&UD), Arvind Kumar said.He further said the onus is on the public to avoid the urge to spit. “While the government frames the rules, implementation cannot be one hundred per cent successful till people have self-control,” he said.
GHMC in July last year had imposed a fine of Rs 100 on a TSRTC driver for spitting on a road near Kushaiguda depot.
The government had imposed a ban on spitting in public places earlier also, but it was hardly enforced.
“The Covid-19 pandemic has brought to the fore the importance of hygiene and cleanliness in both personal as well as public spheres. There is a dire need to impose restrictions on unhealthy practices that may potentially lead to spread of such viruses and other infections,” said A Santhi Kumari, special chief secretary, health, medical and family welfare department, in a government order.
She said, “In the interest of public health and safety, spitting of pan, any chewable tobacco or non-tobacco product and sputum is banned.”
The Epidemic Diseases Act gives the civic authorities the power to enact the rules. Violators can be booked under section 188 of the IPC, which prescribes a punishment of up to six months or a fine of up to Rs 1,000 or both.
According to section 327(2) of the GHMC Act, 1955, a person can be imprisoned for a month or fined up to Rs 5,000 if he/she spits in public places. “There is a need to implement the existing laws. An anti-spitting law that can be implemented by both the health and municipal authorities like in Maharasthra is the need of the hour,” principal secretary, municipal administration and urban development (MA&UD), Arvind Kumar said.He further said the onus is on the public to avoid the urge to spit. “While the government frames the rules, implementation cannot be one hundred per cent successful till people have self-control,” he said.
GHMC in July last year had imposed a fine of Rs 100 on a TSRTC driver for spitting on a road near Kushaiguda depot.
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