Display a “No Smoking” board in front of your restaurant or guest house or be ready to face policemen knocking your doors asking you to pay a fine of up to Rs 500.

The Delhi Police has issued a warning to commercial establishments to display “No Smoking Area: Smoking here is an Offence” board at their entrance and other prominent areas in the building.

“It is mandatory for the owners to display this signboard in the premises or otherwise they will have to face the punishment prescribed in the law,” a senior police official said.

The warning to eating houses, restaurants, hotels, guest houses and cinema halls operating in the national capital was issued under the provisions of Delhi Prohibition of Smoking and Non-Smokers Health Protection Act of 1996.

‘No Smoking Zone’

According to Section 10 of the Act, the owner or manager or in-charge of affairs of every place of public work or use shall display and exhibit a board at a conspicuous place or places in and outside the premises visited or used by general public prominently stating that the place is a “No Smoking Zone” and that “Smoking is an Offence”.