BANGALORE: Forget erecting boards, city schools and colleges are not even aware of the ban on sale of cigarettes and other tobacco products near their institutions.A day after the Karnataka High Court asked the state government to verify and initiate action against 41 educational institutions for allowing petty shops selling tobacco around their campuses, The Times of India found that heads of the institutions were unaware of any such ban."It's rather surprising to know that we are being scrutinised for something we were not aware of. We would have complied if we were asked to, but we were not," said Dr Ambrose Pinto, principal, St Joseph's College.On Tuesday morning, clearly none of these institutions under the scanner were aware of the HC's directive either."It is clear that none of the colleges promote tobacco. In fact, our students are engaged in an anti-tobacco campaign. We are more than happy to put up boards banning tobacco vendors. But the government cannot take action against colleges for something they are not aware of. That is not the way to deal with the problem," said Viju PD, director, student affairs, Christ University.At a college near Ulsoor police station, mobile tobacco vendors did brisk business outside the premises on Tuesday, as students lined up for tobacco and short-eats. "I do not invite students to come here. Who am I to stop them from smoking?'' asked Manjunath S, a shopkeeper on KH Road.Residents say that another reason for these shops mushrooming is the number of companies in the vicinity. "These shops cater to employees working in these firms and not just students,'' said a resident.According to some educationists, instead of taking on schools for not displaying boards, action should be taken against those violating rules by selling tobacco products in the periphery of the institutions. "We tried to get rid of the vendors, who turned hostile. Why did the government give them license to sell tobacco, knowing they are located near schools?" asked K P Gopalkrishna, chairman, National Public Schools.WHAT DID HC SAY?Following a writ petition from the Cancer Patients' Aid Association, a high court division bench headed by Chief Justice JS Khehar had on Monday directed the government to inspect and prosecute educational institutions which do not comply with Section 6 of the Control of Tobacco Products Act, 2004 (COTPA) -- prohibiting the sale of any tobacco products within 100 yards of the institution. The rule also mandates that institutions put up boards outside their college/school premises, stating that the sale of cigarettes and tobacco products is banned in an area of 100 yards.