The Government of Karnataka, on November 04, 2025, issued a circular revising the guidelines for the utilization of fines collected under the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA), 2003. The revised directions update earlier instructions issued vide letter No. DHS/Tobacco/47/2011-12 dated 26.03.2012, which mandated depositing collected fines into a joint account of the Deputy Commissioner and District Health & Family Welfare Officers for tobacco-control-related expenditure.
Under the revised framework, COTPA fine amounts must be used exclusively for tobacco control initiatives, with up to 70% of district-level collections earmarked for district activities, primarily tobacco cessation services. District Tobacco Control Cells must prepare an annual action plan based on the previous year’s collected fines, secure approval in the first-quarter meeting of the District Tobacco Control Coordination Committee, and implement it in accordance with NHM/KTPP rules. District Programme Officers must also report progress in each DLCC meeting and ensure submission of supporting documents and audit reports.
Permitted uses of the 70% allocation include procurement of NRT medicines, CO monitors, peak flow meters, district-level training programmes, school-based TOFEI compliance activities, Gram Panchayat awareness programmes, and IEC initiatives. Proposals exceeding ₹1 lakh annually require approval from the Commissioner, HFW Services. The circular clarifies that COTPA fine funds are to be treated as an additional grant only after the annual NTCP grant has been fully utilized.
[Notification No. HFWS 1298/2024-O/JDCM]
