SRINAGAR: The Administration of Union Territory of Ladakh has issued strict instructions banning the use of tobacco products, alcohol, intoxicants and other prohibited substances inside all public and government transport vehicles, in a move aimed at strengthening road safety, public health and hygiene standards.
The directive, issued by the Transport Department through Circular No. 01-Trans(UTL) of 2026 dated March 31, states that the consumption of tobacco in any form, including smoking and smokeless products, as well as intoxicants and drugs, will be strictly prohibited for drivers, conductors and passengers.
The order highlights that such practices pose serious risks to road safety, impair driving concentration, create nuisance, and lead to unhygienic conditions inside vehicles. It also cites multiple legal provisions, including the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA), 2003, Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989, the NDPS Act, 1985, and Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016
