New Delhi: Electronic cigarettes, or e-cigarettes, may have been the rage at your local lounge bar, but no more. The government on Wednesday banned e-cigarettes, setting a stiff fine of Rs 1 lakh for first-time violators, as well as up to one year of jailtime. For subsequent offenders the fine goes up to Rs 5 lakh, with up to three years of jail.
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, who headed the group of ministers on e-cigarettes, announced that the production, import, distribution and sale of e-cigarettes had been banned as they pose a health risk, especially to the youth. It was banned by ordinance and will be converted to a bill in the next parliament session.
Incidentally, health minister Harsh Vardhan was not in the country and so was not a party to the cabinet decision.
