Question: What is the maximum penalty for repeated violations of the ban on e-cigarettes?
(a) up to three years of imprisonment and Rs. 5 lakhs of fine
(b) up to one years of imprisonment and Rs. 2 lakhs of fine
(c) up to two years of imprisonment and Rs. 3 lakhs of fine
(d) up to three years of imprisonment and Rs. 4 lakhs of fine
Answer: (a)
Related facts:
- On 18th September, 2019, in a press conference Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced complete ban on e-cigarettes. This calls for complete ban on production, sale, manufacturing, and advertising of e-cigarettes.
- She was accompanied by Prakash Javdekar. The ban was also on import/export, transport, distribution, storage on e-cigarettes.
- Citing use of e-cigarettes causing a lot of damage across the world,Finance Minister informed that 300 million US citizens are using e-cigarettes and a 78 per cent increase in the use of e-cigarettes has been found among high school students in the US.
- Finance Minister announced in cabinet briefing that first-time violators will have to face imprisonment of up to one year and Rs. one lakh of fine.
- Also, repeat offenders can get up to three years of imprisonment and Rs. 5 lakhs of fine.
E-cigarette:
- E-cigarettes (Electronic cigarette) are generally known as battery-operated devices that produce vape by heating nicotine mixed solution, which is the addictive substance in combustible cigarettes.
Links:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electronic_cigarette
https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/india-bans-e-cigarettes-as-vaping-backlash-grows/articleshow/71184172.cms?from=mdr
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6018193/
https://www.businesstoday.in/current/economy-politics/govt-bans-production-manufacturing-trade-of-ecigarettes/story/379840.html