Acting on a criminal complaint filed by a local NGO — Burning Brain Society — the Chandigarh Police issued notices under Section 160 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, asking the bureaucrats to explain why the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act, 2003, had not been implemented.

Officers have to ensure prohibition of smoking at public spaces in their offices under the provisions of Section 4, Rule 3 of the Act.

The Rule 3 (1) reads: “The owner or manager or incharge of the affairs of a public place shall cause to be displayed prominently a board, of a minimum size of 60 cm by 30 cm in the Indian languages as applicable, at least one at the entrance of the public place and one at conspicuous place(s) inside, containing the warning “No Smoking Area — Smoking here is an offence”.

Failure to adhere to the rules may result in simple imprisonment for a maximum of one year or a fine or both.

Station House Officer of Police Station-3, Inspector Harsahai Sharma, said: “We are now ensuring that the boards are displayed properly at the public spaces in the required offices.”