Sale of tobacco products rampant near City colleges

A panel comprising Pre-University (PU) Department officials and members of non-government organisations has found that sale of tobacco products is rampant within 100 yards of at least 73 colleges in the City.   

The High Court of Karnataka in March 2011 had directed the panel to conduct a survey, while hearing a writ petition filed by the Cancer Patients Aid Association, taking cognizance of children’s tobacco consumption. 

Following the directive of the High Court Division Bench, comprising Chief Justice J S Khehar and Justice A S Bopanna, deputy director of the PU  Department, Lawyers' Collective Legal Aid Officer Dolly Kalita and others have completed the survey of 527 pre-university colleges in the City in the last one year.
The survey revealed that tobacco products are easily available for students of several prominent colleges spread across the length and breadth of the City. The list includes Surana College near South End Circle, MS Ramaiah PU College in Gokula and New Christ PU College in Madiwala.
It may be noted that sale of tobacco products to minors is violation of Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products (Prohibition on Advertising and Regulating Trade, Commerce, Production, Supply and Distribution) Act (COTPA), 2003. While Section 4 of COTPA prohibits smoking in public places,  Section 6 prohibits the sale of tobacco products to minors, within 100 yards of an educational institution.
Dr Vishal Rao, consultant oncologist, Fortis Hospitals and Convener of Tobacco Free Bangalore, said tobacco products, which had many carcinogens in them, were being sold to students, who were just out of schools and had little idea about how harmful they could be in future.Easy access
“Such an easy access to tobacco products for minors is the reason why we are finding cancer cases at the age of 30s and 40s these days,” he added. 
Sonam Yanchen, a college student and resident of Koramangala, said “some PU students, especially those in the first year, think that smoking is a status symbol and it showcases them as cool.” She said availability of tobacco products around college campus comes handy for them and they cultivate the habit very soon. 

Members of the panel told Deccan Herald that the list of colleges, around which tobacco vendors were rampant, had been submitted to the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP). A member said as per the HC directive, the BBMP should initiate penal action against the vendors.
Tobacco sold within 100 yards here

* Jain PU College, Shankarpuram, KR Road* Surana College, South End Circle, RV Road* St Anne’s Girls PU College, Millers Road, Vasanthnagar* MS Ramaiah PU College, Gokula, MSR Road* Jyothi Nivas PU College, Koramangala* Indian Academy Pre University College * St Thomas Road, Hennur Cross* St Patrick’s PU College, Brigade Road* Fathima Girls PU College, Frazer Town* AMC American PU College, Bannerghatta* St John’s PU College, Mangammanapalya* CB Bhandari Jain PU College, Chickpet* Vijaya BIFR PU College, Basavanagudi* Sanghamitra Women’s PU College, Vijayanagara* New Christ PU College, Madiwala* Siddartha PU College, Lingarajapuram