Prohibition of Smoking (Cinema and Theatre Halls) Act, 1951
| 1 |
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| Year |
No. |
Short title |
Whether affected by legislation |
| 1951 |
8 |
The Punjab Prohibition of Smoking (Cinema and Theatre Halls) Act, 1951 |
Extended to Pepsu Territory Punjab Act 5 of 19592 |
An Act to provide the Prohibition of Smoking in Cinema and Theatre Halls.
It is hereby enacted as follows:
Section 1. Short title, extent and commencement
(1) This Act may be called the Punjab Prohibition of Smoking (Cinema and Theatre Halls) Act, 1951.
(2) It extends to the whole of the State of Punjab.
(3) It shall come into force at once.
Section 2. Definitions
In this Act unless there is anything repugnant in the subject or context,
(a) the Act means the Prohibition of Smoking (Cinema and Theatre Halls) Act, 1951.
(b) Auditorium means the portion of the building occupied by the audience or spectators during a show.
(c) Inspector means an Inspector appointed under the Act by Government.
(d) Government means the Government of the State of Punjab.
(e) Show means a cinematograph exhibition or performance of a drama, or dance.
(f) Smoking means smoking of tobacco in any form, whether as cigarette, cigar, beeri, or in pipe or hukka.
Section 3. Offence under this Act
(1) No person shall smoke in Cimema or Theatre Halls, during the prohibited period, either in the auditorium or on the stage, except in so far as the smoking may be a part of the performance.
Explanation. The expression prohibited period means the period beginning from half an hour before the commencement of a show till the end thereof.
(2) Any person who contravenes the provisions of sub-section (1) of this section shall be liable to be turned out of the Cinema or Theatre Hall without payment of any compensation or refund of any payment made by him and shall also be liable to arrest for the purposes of section 57 of the Code of Criminal Procedure 1898 (Act V of 1898), and on conviction to a fine, which may extend to rupees twenty.
Section 4. Power of Inspector
An Inspector may enter a Cinema or Theatre Hall to satisfy himself that the provisions of this Act are not being contravened.
Section 5. Power to institute prosecution
No prosecution under this Act shall be instituted except on the complaint, in writing of an Inspector authorised in this behalf by a general or special order of the Director of Health Services, Punjab.
Section 6. Power to try summarily
All cases under this Act shall be tried in the manner provided for the summary trial under the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898 (Act V of 1898).
Section 7. Power to make rules
The State Government may, by notification, make rules for carrying out the provisions of this Act.
1. For Statement of Objects and Reasons, see Punjab Government Gazette (Extraordinary), 1951, page 309; for proceedings in the Assembly, see Punjab Legislative Assembly Debates, Volume III, 1951, pages (21)177-(21)182.
2. Extended to Pepsu Territory by Act 5 of 1959, section 4 and schedule.
3. [Received the assent of His Excellency the Governor on the 20th April, 1951, and, first published in the, Punjab Government Gazette (Extraordinary) of April 23, 1951]