Law to Be Amended to Make Gutkha Ban More Stringent

 Law to Be Amended to Make Gutkha Ban More Stringent

– Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis

Nagpur, December 9: A proposal to apply the MCOCA (Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act) against those involved in gutkha sales was earlier sent to the Law and Judiciary Department. However, under the current provisions, MCOCA cannot be applied due to the absence of the legal components “harm and hurt.” Therefore, necessary amendments will be made in the law so that MCOCA can also be imposed on individuals involved in the gutkha trade. The law will be made more stringent, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis informed the State Assembly.

MLAs Prashant Thakur, Aslam Shaikh, Abhimanyu Pawar, Rais Shaikh, and Ameen Patel had raised questions regarding illegal gutkha sales and transportation around school and college premises. CM Fadnavis was responding to these questions.

The Chief Minister said that gutkha is completely banned in the state. In connection with gutkha sales and transportation, police have undertaken large-scale actions across Maharashtra, registering hundreds of cases in various districts. In the extensive crackdown: 1,144 cases were registered in Navi Mumbai, 185 in Ahmednagar, 90 in Jalna, 35 in Akola, 131 in Nashik, 230 in Chandrapur, 108 in Solapur, 664 in Buldhana, and a total of 1,706 cases were recorded in Nagpur and Yavatmal districts, the Chief Minister informed.

He added that if gutkha sales are detected within a 100-meter radius of schools or colleges, joint action will be taken against the stalls or shops in that area. This action will be carried out in coordination with local self-governing bodies.

CM Fadnavis further stated that there is a need for rehabilitation centres for individuals addicted to drugs. In the Mumbai metropolitan region, there is a shortage of quality rehabilitation facilities, and the government will take necessary steps in this direction.

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