Chennai: In its sharpest slap yet against the state-run booze flood, the Madras high court has said it's time the government revisited its liquor policy and take “a firm decision” instead of peddling imbecile excuses that its booze shops keep away dangerous arrack. “Time has come, at least now, for the government to revisit its policy on the liquor and take a firm decision, keeping in mind the wish of the public at large. Otherwise, there is no meaning in simply printing the slogan (in Tamil) on the liquor bottles, viz., ‘Liquor ruins country, families, and lives’”, said Justice K. Ravichandrabaabu, while ordering the authorities to consider the request of Hindustan College of Arts and Science at Padur (Kancheepuram district) to close down the Tasmac shop relocated near the institution pursuant to the recent Supreme Court order banning liquor shops on highways.
Liquor shops, said the judge, served no good to public welfare. “No doubt, it generates huge revenue to the government. But can it be done at the cost of the welfare of people? While making efforts to find funds for its many schemes, the government should never lose sight of its constitutional obligation to protect the welfare of people at any cost”, he said.
He pointed out that there are now frequent protests across the state against the opening or relocation of Tasmac shops, which only showed public resentment against the state-run liquor trade. He said "day in and day out", several serious crimes were being reported in the media. While the perpetrators took cover under the blanket of drunkenness, the victim families suffered immeasurable trauma. The government often resorted to the argument that it's forced to run the Tasmac shops as otherwise people would turn to spurious liquor and many lives would be lost.
“In my considered view, such justification can never be considered as valid in the larger interest of the public. If the law enforcing authorities in one voice decide and pledge to eliminate such illicit trade, I am very much sure that it will be done in no time”, Justice Ravichandrabaabu said.
Tasmac should consider public welfare , says HC:
The case relates to a petition from the Hindustan College of Arts and Science at Padur (Kancheepuram district) for removal of a Tasmac shop relocated near the institution pursuant to the recent Supreme Court order banning liquor shops on highways. The college had petitioned Tasmac early April but the latter took the stand that its shop fell outside the restricted 50-metre zone (from the college) and was in fact 65.02 metres away from its compound wall. The court has now, rightly, taken the stand that Tasmac should not merely resort to the measuring tapes but take into account the public good-in this case the welfare of students.
