Jaipur, Spitting in public places has been banned in Rajasthan from Friday onwards in view of the health and safety of the common people in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, said Additional Chief Secretary (Health), Rohit Kumar Singh.

The initiative has been taken under Section (2) of the Rajasthan Epidemic Diseases Act, 1957 in the larger public interest under which spitting after chewing tobacco or non-tobacco products has been banned with immediate effect.

Penal action will be taken against those flouting the order under Section 188 of the Indian Penal Code.

In general, it is seen that after eating ‘paan' or chewing tobacco and non-tobacco products, people tend to spit in public places, thus increasing the chances of spreading the dreaded virus.

To prevent this from happening, it has become imperative to ban such unhygienic habits, the Health Secretary said.