India banned smoking

From October 2, 2008 anyone smoking will be fined Rupees two hundred if found smoking at any place outside personal spaces like home and car, and open public areas like pavements and roads. The law came into effect after the Supreme Court rejected a petition of tobacco major ITC, which sought a stay on the government’s smoking ban order.

Places where you can’t smoke: Workplaces, hospitals, stations, auditoria, amusement centres, cinema halls, restaurants, bars, canteens, airports (except for smoking lounge), courts, educational institutions, libraries, banks, shopping malls, monuments, parks, bus stops, public transport.

Not listed as public places: Roads, and inside a car with windows rolled up.

The Delhi High Court has struck down the Ministry of Health’s 2005 notification banning smoking scenes. The court said the ban violated a filmmaker’s right to freedom of speech and expression as guaranteed under Article 19. “Directors should not have multifarious authorities breathing down their necks. A film must reflect the realities of life. It may be undesirable but it exists and is not banned by law”, Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul said. The order came on a petition filed by director Mahesh Bhatt questioning the validity of a notification under the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products (Prohibition of advertisement and Regulation of Trade and Commerce, Production, Supply and Distribution) Act.

Vastu Tips

Vastu Shastra is the traditional Indian system of architecture and design of Vedic origin, applicable for all kind of dwelling areas. The Principles of Vastu date back to about 1000 years ago and constitutes the norms and specifications guarding the constructional and architectural pattern of a building. Vastu means the dwelling of humans and Gods. Following are some tips.

• The main entrance should be in the East or in the North direction. It should not be in front of the compound wall. It should not be in front of the main entrance of the opposite house.
  
• The height of the wall of the house in the North-Eastern side should be the least.
  
• If the wall of the house in the East is tall, it stalls the entry of prosperity, the Goddess Lakshmi, into the house. Therefore, it should be small in height.
  
• The Southern side of the house should be as tall and heavy as possible.
  In any room of the house the beam or column should not cross in the center.
  
• Rooms should not be triangular, oval, or round in shape.
  
• Terrace or balcony in the house should be either in the East or in the North.
  
• The slope of the house as well as the slope of the plinth should be towards East, North or North-East.
  
• Plinth should be the highest in the direction of South-West.
  
• The house should be equipped with a protective wall.
  
• The upper storey of the house should be constructed on the Southern or Western part.
  
• The cupboard in the wall should be the Southern or Western part direction of the house.
  
• Stale food, torn clothes, withered flowers, waste paper, empty bins and jars should never be stored in a house as it hinders the entrance of Goddess Lakshmi in the house.
  
• East (Purab) Pitrustaan(Manes): It should not be blocked , since it is the source of male issues.
  
• South-East (Aagneya) (Fire): Source of health, place of fire, cooking and food.
  
• South (Dakshina): Source of wealth, crops and happiness.
  
• South-West (Naryuthya)-(Earth): Source of character, behavior, cause of longevity and death.
  
• West (Paschima): Source of name, fame and prosperity.
  
• North-West (Vaayavya) (Air): Source of change, income from business, enmity and friendship.
  
• North (Uttara) Maathrusthan-This should not be blocked as it is the source of female issues.
  
• North-East (Eshanya) (Water) Source of health, wealth, prosperity and of male issues.