MAHE: Supreme Court’s order to invite Mahe Prohibition Council to the meeting to frame a national liquor policy is a major victory for the prohibitionists in the Union territory.
It will make sure the nine-sq.km land of Pondicherry to get a representation in the making of a major national policy.
The forum is in a fight for closure of liquor shops along the highways in Mahe and was a respondent in the special leave petition submitted by Puducherry government in the apex court against Madras High Court order directing the state government to follow a Union government circular.
According to a circular issued by Union road transport and highways ministry on March 11, 2013, all the liquor shops along the NH should be removed in view of the high number of road accidents.
But till date, the Puducherry government had not complied with the circular and was running liquor shops along the national highways.
In the order, the SC directed to call a meeting of concerned authorities from the state /Union territories and Union government to discuss and frame the policy.
The Attorney General assured the court to call the meeting in two months. The SC further said the authorities could decide whether to invite stakeholders to the meet or not, but the Mahe group and Chandigarh-based Arrive Safe Society should be part of it.
“This is a major victory for all who fight against the liquor menace here,” said Jinos Basheer, a member of Mayyazhikoottam, a social media collective supporting it.
