A bench of Justices J B Pardiwala and K Vinod Chandran said this while quashing Rules 18A and 18B of Maharashtra Poisons Rules NEW DELHI: Questioning the efficacy of prohibition, Supreme Court Friday pointed to five “evils” associated with the ban on liquor – revenue loss, money spent on its enforcement, corruption in police, illegal distilling, and result-ant drug menace – while also referring to a number of hooch tragedies in Gujarat and other states over the years.A bench of Justices J B Pardiwala and K Vinod Chandran said this while quashing Rules 18A and 18B of Maharashtra Poisons Rules restricting purchase of methanol and making it mandatory to add bitterant and colourant to it before selling to non-drug manufacturers. The rules were framed following the deaths of 93 people from spurious liquor containing methanol in Mumbai in 1991.While allowing the plea of various chemical manufacturing companies, including Indian Chemical Council, the bench dwelled upon the efficacy of the prohibition policy. The court said recent hooch tragedies in Bhavnagar (Gujarat) and Sagar (MP), which claimed 13 and 15 lives respectively, were a reminder for the authorities to wake up and act.”History bears eloquent testimony to the fact that complete alcohol ban often drives the liquor trade underground, increasing the prevalence of unregulated, lethal brews. The state of Gujarat has a strict prohibition policy… It has witnessed at least 10 major mass hooch tragedies since the state’s formation and independence, claiming the lives of over 600 people,” the bench said.Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelinesSC rejected Maharashtra govt’s plea and said the rules had no rational nexus with the objective sought to be achieved to prevent hooch tragedies. The court said it was not doubting the intention of the state but intention solely would not pass the test of manifest arbitrariness.”The state failed to indicate that this practice of putting such additives would discourage or rather dissuade continuous usage of methanol or affect its chemical composition so it cannot be used in making spurious liquor. Further, the state has also failed to indicate how mixing of the additives would definitively prevent deaths. Another question that is left unanswered is how the respondent plans to prevent manufacturing of spurious liquor by the use of other adulterants,” the bench said.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideos‘TMC Mine Until…’: Mamata Supports Congress In Nandigram Bypoll; Ritabrata’s ‘Cult’ Jibe At DidiStone Pelting At Ganesh Idol Procession, Mosque In Karnataka’s Bhatkal Sparks Tension‘I Called Amit Shah’: Ex-Union Minister Ravneet Bittu Blames AAP After Convoy Attack In PunjabMamata Faction Submits New Choices To EC After TMC Name-Symbol Freeze For Bengal BypollUPI Fee: Govt, Payment Gateways Discuss Ways To Shield Consumers From MDR BurdenNearly 40% Of Uttarakhand Madrasas In Old Records Closed After New Norms, Only 30 Get Recognition’NAME MISSING, 3 IN ONE ROOM’: MMA Fighter Varun Sanyal Flags Asian Games Chaos In Nagoya‘Change This Mindset’: SC Gives Tamil Nadu 3 Months To Identify Land For Navodaya SchoolsIndia Responds as US Russia Sanctions Bill Reaches Trump: What It Means for Delhi’s Oil Trade?Last Surviving Maoist Central Committee Member Asim Mandal Arrested In Bengal123PhotostoriesFrom army wives revealing how Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah helped them battle depression to young generation comparing their show with Friends: When Sonalika Joshi spoke about TMKOC successWhat do Americans actually eat in a day?Brain teaser: You have a keen eye if you can spot the fake chef within 5 seconds!Aditi Rao Hydari makes black-and-ivory look anything but basic with a killer red lip touch10 baby names inspired by music, melody and harmonyMoney plant: Should you keep it in direct sunlight or shade? Here’s the right spot for healthy growthSamay Raina, Medha Shankr married secretly? Deleted Reddit post claims couple tied the knot 2 months agoSonam Kapoor’s hand-blocked anarkali for Ganesh Puja celebrations is a masterclass in old-school Indian glamFrom Vicky Jain to Hina Khan, The Great Khali and more: Richest Bigg Boss contestants over the years and their net worthHow to make your makeup last all day this Ganpati Puja123Hot PicksTMC Party SymbolRussia sanctions billSurendra KoliNavya ShekhawatCBSE Date SheetShapoor MistryDelhi rapeNSE IPOSwatantra BhardwajTop TrendingAbhishek SharmaJared YoungWWE Money In the BankGold Rates TodayJos ButtlerAsian GamesMohammad RizwanLamar OdomDonald TrumpPM Modi
NEW DELHI: Questioning the efficacy of prohibition, Supreme Court Friday pointed to five “evils” associated with the ban on liquor – revenue loss, money spent on its enforcement, corruption in police, illegal distilling, and result-ant drug menace – while also referring to a number of hooch tragedies in Gujarat and other states over the years.A bench of Justices J B Pardiwala and K Vinod Chandran said this while quashing Rules 18A and 18B of Maharashtra Poisons Rules restricting purchase of methanol and making it mandatory to add bitterant and colourant to it before selling to non-drug manufacturers. The rules were framed following the deaths of 93 people from spurious liquor containing methanol in Mumbai in 1991.While allowing the plea of various chemical manufacturing companies, including Indian Chemical Council, the bench dwelled upon the efficacy of the prohibition policy. The court said recent hooch tragedies in Bhavnagar (Gujarat) and Sagar (MP), which claimed 13 and 15 lives respectively, were a reminder for the authorities to wake up and act.“History bears eloquent testimony to the fact that complete alcohol ban often drives the liquor trade underground, increasing the prevalence of unregulated, lethal brews. The state of Gujarat has a strict prohibition policy… It has witnessed at least 10 major mass hooch tragedies since the state’s formation and independence, claiming the lives of over 600 people,” the bench said.
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SC rejected Maharashtra govt’s plea and said the rules had no rational nexus with the objective sought to be achieved to prevent hooch tragedies. The court said it was not doubting the intention of the state but intention solely would not pass the test of manifest arbitrariness.“The state failed to indicate that this practice of putting such additives would discourage or rather dissuade continuous usage of methanol or affect its chemical composition so it cannot be used in making spurious liquor. Further, the state has also failed to indicate how mixing of the additives would definitively prevent deaths. Another question that is left unanswered is how the respondent plans to prevent manufacturing of spurious liquor by the use of other adulterants,” the bench said.
