THE PUNJAB JUVENILE SMOKING ACT, 1918
Punjab Act 7 of 1918
Received the assent of the Lieutenant-Governor of the Punjab on the 6th June, 1918, and that of the Governor-General on the 25th June, 1918 and was first published in the Punjab Gazette dated 12th July, 1918.
An Act to prevent juveniles from smoking tobacco.
Whereas it is expedient to prevent juveniles from smoking tobacco, and whereas the previous sanction of the Governor-General under section 79(2) of the Government of India Act, 1915, has been obtained to the alteration of the law effected by section 5 of this Act; it is hereby enacted as follows :-
1. Short title and extent. - (1) This Act may be called the Punjab Juvenile Smoking Act, 1918.
(2) It extends to the whole of [Punjab].
Object & Reasons
Statement of Objects and Reasons. - The object of the Bill is to prevent children and young persons from smoking tobacco. Experience shows that the habit of smoking cigarettes and cigars is increasing by leaps and bounds of late, especially among the youngsters,
The habits though injurious even to grown-up persons, has its special pernicious effect on the health of the juveniles whose physical and mental development is injuriously affected by this bad habit. According to the opinion of medical experts, tobacco contains alkaloid nicotine which among others produces the following injurious effects :
1. Dyspetic disorder.
2. Inflammation of the inside of the mouth.
3. Sore-throat.
4. Cancer of tongue and lip.
5. Blindness
6. Colour blindness.
7. Irregular action of the heart.
2. Definitions. - In this Act -
"Tobacco" means tobacco in any form and includes any smoking mixture intended as a substitute for tobacco;
"Public place" means any place to which the public for the time being has access whether on payment or otherwise and includes a railway station and a railway carriage.
3. Penalty for selling tobacco to children. - Whoever sells or gives or attempts to sell or give to a child apparently under the age of sixteen years any tobacco, whether for his own use or not, shall be liable on conviction [-] in the case of a first offence to a fine not exceeding ten rupees and in the case of a second offence to a fine not exceeding twenty rupees and in the case of a third or subsequent offence to a fine not exceeding fifty rupees.
4. Seizure of tobacco being smoked by juvenile in a public place. - If any boy apparently under the age of sixteen years be found smoking tobacco in any public place it shall be lawful for any lambardar, zaildar, teacher of a recognized school or affiliated college, member of a municipal committee, member of a district board, member of a notified area committee, legal practitioner, registered medical practitioner or magistrate to seize such tobacco and destroy it.
[5. Summary jurisdiction. - The High Court may confer on any Bench of Judicial Magistrates, invested with the powers of a Judicial Magistrate of the second class, powers to try summarily any offence under this Act.]
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