Govt bans Hookah parlours in Hyderabad

The central govt has banned the Hookah parlours in establishments and at public places. They will be totally shut down with the implementation of the ban by Hyderabad police.Police will be conducting raids to ensure that all hookah parlours are shut in the city, which is effective from this week onwards.

Hyderabad Commissioner of Police M. Mahender Reddy said that their aim is to declare Hyderabad ‘a hookah-free city’ by implementing the government rule.“We have alerted all the Station House Officers, ACPs, and Zonal DCPs to conduct searches in their areas and do a major crackdown



on the hookah parlours. Stringent action will be initiated against those who violate the law,” said Mahender Reddy.

The new rule mentions “no service shall be allowed in any smoking area or space provided for smoking.”Which means no hotels, restaurants, private clubs or parlours can let any of their customers smoke inside their premises. The rule does not specifically point out to the Hookah parlours.

The order is issued by Ministry of Health and Family Welfare by amending the Prohibition of Smoking in Public Places Act, 2008.