Savitribai Phule Pune University (SPPU) has directed all affiliated colleges and educational institutions to ensure that e-cigarettes are not used or sold in and around their premises. SPPU Registrar Dr Prafulla Pawar issued a circular on Friday, July 28, in this regard.

The university's decision is based on a circular dated May 18, issued by the Education Directorate (Higher Education), asking varsities to prohibit the use of electronic cigarettes on the premises of educational institutes. The use of e-cigarettes is also prohibited as per the Prohibition of Electronic Cigarettes Act, 2019, as mentioned in a report by PTI.

The SPPU circular stated that colleges and educational institutes are required to take necessary measures and hold a special campaign to ensure that e-cigarettes are neither sold nor used on their premises.

Incidents of youth indulging in substance abuse are not new. In Maharashtra, a 24-year-old youth died by suicide days after he was caught driving under the influence of alcohol, police informed on Saturday, July 29.

While Manish Uttekar shared a suicide note on social media claiming harassment by the traffic cops, a senior police official denied the allegation. Officials said that Uttekar, who was preparing for competitive exams, wanted the traffic cops to go easy on him in the drunk-driving case, saying it would ruin his future, as per a separate report by PTI.