Enforce COTPA

Public health cannot be compromised, and yet, in public spaces across Srinagar and other parts of the Valley, especially in urban centers, the sight of people smoking openly remains all too common. Despite the existence of a robust legal framework in the form of the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA), 2003, enforcement remains weak, sporadic, and often ignored. A determined and sustained drive against public smoking is an urgent necessity. Section 4 of COTPA clearly prohibits smoking in public places, including markets, parks, hospitals, educational institutions, and public transport. Yet, enforcement is lax, and violators often go unchecked. This not only defeats the purpose of the law but also exposes non-smokers, including children, to the serious hazards of secondhand smoke — a known killer. The casual attitude toward public smoking emboldens violators and sends a dangerous message that health laws are optional. What is needed now is a citywide, state-level, and ultimately nationwide crackdown on public smoking. Law enforcement agencies, municipal authorities, and health departments must coordinate efforts to ensure COTPA is not just a law on paper, but a reality on the ground. Fines must be imposed rigorously. Public awareness campaigns should run parallel, making it clear that smoking in public is both a health threat and a punishable offense. Shops and vendors selling tobacco products near schools—another clear violation of COTPA—must face swift action. Moreover, encouraging citizen participation through complaint mechanisms and awareness drives can help build a culture of compliance. After all, it is not just the smoker who is at risk—it is every passerby, every child playing in a park, every commuter on a bus.